Presidential election date will most likely be set for November 10

Media outlets in Romania and Moldova have reported that Parliament will meet tomorrow to set the date of the presidential election for November 10.

Initially, legislators were supposed to elect a head of state on October 23, but the ruling Alliance delayed the date to change the law on the presidential election. As a result of the changes, elections can be valid even if only one candidate runs. In addition, Parliament cannot be dissolved more than once a year, and no less than 365 after the last time it was dismissed.

This means that if Parliament fails to elect a President, new elections will be called in 2010.

The deadline by which legislators have to elect a head of state is November 11, so November 10 is the latest possible date at which the election could have been set.

The Alliance currently holds 53 seats in the legislature, eight short of the 61 votes it needs to elect Marian Lupu, its nominee. Those votes can only come from the Party of Communists.