Poll: Communists - 26%; Democrats - 14.4%; Liberal Democrats - 12.9%; Liberals - 8.2%

The Institute for Public Policy recently published its occasional Barometer of Public Opinion, which is conducted by IMAS.

According to the results, the political balance between the Communists and the anti-Communist parties remains roughly the same as in Parliament, although some groups in the Alliance seem to be growing stronger.

If elections were to be held next Sunday, the Party of Communists would win 26 percent of the vote, followed by the Democratic Party (14.1 percent); the Liberal Democratic Party (12.9 percent); and the Liberal Party (8.2 percent). The Moldova Noastra [Our Moldova] Alliance would only get 1.2 percent and would not manage to cross the five-percent threshold. The poll does not take into consideration the fact that the Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party (which wins 1.8 percent in the poll) recently merged. That could also boost the Democrats' popularity.

About 21.4 percent of the respondents said they did not know who they would vote for, 4.2 said they would not vote, and 7.5 percent did not provide an answer. There is, then, a considerable chunk of undecideds.

The Democrats seem to be doing better, in large part because of the popularity of their leader - Marian Lupu. Mr. Lupu was the Alliance's presidential candidate, but did not manage to win enough Communist votes to become head of state.

The Liberal Democrats seem to be doing better, as well, in part because Prime Minister Vlad Filat is head of the party and has become more visible as of late.

The Liberals are stagnating and Moldova Noastra seems to be in a decline.

In terms of popularity, Democratic head, Marian Lupu is in the top (19.8 percent); followed by Communist head Vladimir Voronin (16.6 percent); Prime Minister Vlad Filat (14.1 percent); and Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca (4.1 percent). Twenty percent of respondents said they did not trust anyone.

Considering the fact that Moldova will hold early legislative elections in late 2010 or in 2011, this poll suggests the balance of power between the Communists and the Alliance could remain the same. A lot can happen in a year, however.