MOLDOVA-ELECTIONS/PM VOTES Moldovan PM Iurie Leanca casts ballot in parliamentary poll
Record ID:
328389
MOLDOVA-ELECTIONS/PM VOTES Moldovan PM Iurie Leanca casts ballot in parliamentary poll
- Title: MOLDOVA-ELECTIONS/PM VOTES Moldovan PM Iurie Leanca casts ballot in parliamentary poll
- Date: 30th November 2014
- Summary: CHISINAU, MOLDOVA (NOVEMBER 30, 2014) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MOLDOVAN PRIME MINISTER IURIE LEANCA ENTERING POLLING STATION LEANCA AT POLLING STATION LEANCA REGISTERING TO VOTE, TAKING BALLOT PAPER, WALKING AWAY LEANCA CASTING BALLOT, WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Moldovan) MOLDOVAN PRIME MINISTER, IURIE LEANCA, SAYING: "Yes, we were unable to fulfill everything we wanted. There were subjective and objective reasons for that. The situation in the region is extremely difficult. And of course it effected us, our plans, the pace we were able to move forward with. But in order to give a rational evaluation we also have to look at the path traversed by other countries, to the west of us, which have managed to achieve different living standards and to build a different political and legal system. We call on the people to vote, so that afterwards they can have the right to put more pressure on those who will lead the country after today's poll." LEANCA WALKING TOWARDS CAR/ GETTING INTO CAR / CAR DRIVING AWAY
- Embargoed: 15th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA4G43EOYK819186A4RRFS71B68
- Story Text: Moldova's Prime Minister Iurie Leanca voted in a parliamentary poll on Sunday (November 30) widely seen as a contest between pro-Russian and pro-European political forces.
"Yes, we were unable to fulfill everything we wanted. There were subjective and objective reasons for that. The situation in the region is extremely difficult. And of course it effected us, our plans, the pace we were able to move forward with. But in order to give a rational evaluation we also have to look at the path traversed by other countries, to the west of us, which have managed to achieve different living standards and to build a different political and legal system. We call on the people to vote, so that afterwards they can have the right to put more pressure on those who will lead the country after today's poll," said Leanca after casting his ballot at a polling station on the outskirts of the capital, Chisinau.
Surveys show that public opinion in one of Europe's smallest and poorest countries is divided over whether to stick to the pro-Europe path pursued by a ruling centre-right coalition or reverse course and join the Russia-led economic bloc.
With a far-reaching political and trade agreement with the European Union ratified and with Moldovans now enjoying visa-free travel to Western Europe, commentators say it is difficult to imagine any new leadership gaining popular support for a U-turn back towards Moscow.
Russia, the main supplier of energy, has shown its displeasure by banning imports of wines, fruit, vegetables and meat products from the landlocked country of 3.5 million that borders by Ukraine and EU member Romania and whose economy is heavily dependent on agricultural exports.
But despite having a springboard in Moldova in the shape of the breakaway pro-Russian enclave of Transdniestria, Russia has shown no readiness to intervene as it has done in Ukraine, which also pursued a pro-Europe agenda unacceptable to Moscow.
In pre-election opinion polls, the communists came in as a front-runner at 24 percent and the three pro-EU coalition parties, including the Liberal Democratic party of Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, together at 38 to 43 percent. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None