February 11 (SeeNews) - Most Moldovans will vote for the pro-Russian Socialist Party (PSRM) if parliamentary elections were held now, the results of two recent polls show.
Some 28.5% of Moldovans would vote for PSRM controlled by President Igor Dodon, a poll conducted by IMAS at the request of the Foundation for Modern Democracy showed. The results were published on Thursday.
Around 19.2% of respondents would vote for the ACUM electoral bloc formed by the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) led by Maia Sandu, and Dignity and Truth Platform (PPDA) of Andrei Nastase.
Only 18.4% of those polled would vote for the governing Democratic Party (PDM) led by Vlad Plahotniuc.
The next party which would pass the 6% threshold in order to enter parliament is Sor Party, led by businessman Ilan Sor, with 6.7%.
The survey was conducted by IMAS between January 19 and January 31. The sample consisted of 1,507 permanent residents of Moldova aged 18 and older and eligible to vote. The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus 2.5%.
Another poll, conducted by US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and published last week shortly before the IMAS survey indicated that 39% of Moldovans would vote for PSRM if parliamentary elections were held now. Some 22% of respondents would vote for the ACUM alliance, while only 14% of those polled would vote for PDM. The rest of the parties do not pass the 6% threshold, according to the IRI poll.
Some 58% of all respondents said they were 'very likely' to vote, while 28% were 'somewhat likely' to cast ballots in the next parliamentary elections. Some 11% said they are 'unlikely or very unlikely' to vote, while the rest said they didn't know or they would not answer. The anticipated high voter turnout figure has remained statistically stable since the last poll conducted in October, IRI noted.
The survey was conducted by IRI between December 5 and January 16. The sample consisted of 1,226 permanent residents of Moldova aged 18 and older and eligible to vote. The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus 2.8%.
Moldova will hold parliamentary elections on February 24.
The largest political force in Moldova's parliament elected in 2014 is the PD with 40 of 101 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 Part (PLDM) has 5 seats, and independent MPs hold 6 seats.