February 21 (SeeNews) - Moldova will hold a regular general election on Sunday - the tenth vote for members of parliament since 1990.
A total of 321 candidates representing 15 political parties will compete to enter the 101-seat unicameral parliament.
The main participants in the race are the pro-Russian Socialist Party (PSRM) led by Zinaida Greceanii and backed by president Igor Dodon, and the ACUM electoral bloc formed by the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) led by Maia Sandu and the Dignity and Truth Platform (PPDA) of Andrei Nastase.
Other major contenders are the governing Democratic Party (PDM) led by Vlad Plahotniuc and Sor Party led by businessman Ilan Sor.
The largest political force in Moldova's parliament elected in 2014 is the PD with 40 seats. PSRM is the second biggest force with 24 seats, followed by the Liberal Party (PLD) and European Popular Parliamentary Group with 9 seats each. The Communist Party has 8 MPs, Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) has 5 seats, and independent MPs hold 6 seats.
The February 24 vote will be held under a new mixed system introduced in 2017 - 50 MPs will be elected on party lists and the remaining 51 will be elected in individual constituencies.
The country is divided into 51 election districts and the members of parliament are elected for a four-year term.
A total of 3,265,997 Moldovan citizens are eligible to vote.
At the end of 2018, Moldova had a population of 3.55 million, according to data from the country's statistical office, BNS.
Polling stations will open at 0500 CET and close at 1900 CET.
Sources:
- BNS statistical office
- Central Electoral Bureau, CEC
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