Communist President Voronin was just tapped for possible election again after Moldova’s recent parliamentary elections. He’s pretty confident he’ll win.

CHISINAU, March 23 (Itar-Tass) – Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin said he was confident that the new parliament elected on March 6 will vote for the head of state at the first try.

Voronin made the statement in commends on the talks which the authorities are conducting with the opposition.

Communists hold 56 out of 101 mandates in the republic’s parliament, which enables them to form the parliament leadership and the Cabinet.

To elect the president, they need the support of 61 lawmakers. Hence, the Communist Party is in talks with the opposition — the Democratic Moldova bloc that received 34 mandates at the election or the Christian-Democratic People????????s Party which has 11 mandates.

Both these Parties announced their intention to boycott the election of Communist president.

If the parliament fails to elect the head of state at a second try, it will be dissolved and a new election will be called.

Voronin made it clear that his confidence stems from the difficult situation in which the 16-Party Democratic Moldova bloc found itself. Some analysts predict that the bloc will split into three to four factions in parliament.

Observers share the opinion that the Communists have already come to terms with several lawmakers from each of the opposition parties.

This view is corroborated by the fact that the new parliament will convene as early as Thursday, although under the Constitution, the session may take place much later.

At a session on Wednesday, the Central Committee of Moldova’s ruling Communist Party recommended Vladimir Voronin to the post of president of the republic.

At this point he probably should be. As the article says, the communists need to sway just five seats from the opposition parties. While the Democratic Moldova Bloc is polar to the communists in that they favor stronger ties with Russia, while the communists favor Europe, the Christian Democrats favor much closer ties with Romania. Since the Christian Democrats are closer to the communists in this regard, Voronin might find his votes there, especially if what the article says is true and they break into separate factions.