MOLDOVA: Election officials recounting votes after disputed election but the opposition says it wants a new election

Record ID: 784515

  • Title: MOLDOVA: Election officials recounting votes after disputed election but the opposition says it wants a new election
  • Date: 16th April 2009
  • Summary: CHISINAU, MOLDOVA (APRIL 15, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CENTRAL COURT BUILDING SACKS CONTAINING BALLOTS ON TABLES INSIDE COURT OFFICIALS HANDING OUT SACKS WITH BALLOTS TO LOCAL POLLING STATIONS REPRESENTATIVES LOCAL POLLING STATIONS REPRESENTATIVES LOADING CARS WITH SACKS CONTAINING BALLOTS EXTERIOR OF REGIONAL POLLING STATION INTERIOR OF POLLING STATION POLLING STATION OFFICIAL OPENING SACK WITH BALLOTS POLICEMAN VARIOUS OF POLLING STATION OFFICIALS RE-COUNTING BALLOTS BALLOTS OFFICIALS COUNTING BALLOT PAPERS
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADTQ6I0L5HQSBVRG6P9K6DV4I8
  • Story Text: Election officials in Moldova began on Wednesday (April 15) recounting more than 1.5 million ballots cast in the former Soviet republic's disputed election, in which a Communist victory sparked violent protests.
    Moldova's Constitutional Court ordered the recount at the request of communist President Vladimir Voronin, who said it could boost trust in the country after demonstrators ransacked public buildings last week.
    The liberal, pro-Western opposition accused the president of plotting a coup during the protests and is boycotting the recount on the grounds that it will produce nothing new; it wants a new election.
    Officials escorted by police carried ballots across Moldova to be counted at more than 2,000 polling stations.
    Most of the recount was expected to be completed by mid-afternoon, but could take a little longer in rural areas of what is Europe's poorest country.
    But Opposition parties have demanded a new election. They say their concern is fraud because of voters' lists which they allege contain the names of dead people and Moldovans working abroad but unable to come back into the country to vote.
    Results in the April 5 poll gave the communists 49.48 percent of the vote and 60 seats -- one short of the number needed to ensure victory for their candidate when parliament chooses the new president.
    Three opposition parties, broadly pro-Romanian in outlook, gained a combined total of 35.34 percent and won 41 seats. Turnout stood at about 60 percent.
    The Constitutional Court is to issue a ruling on the recount by no later than Tuesday, April 21.
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