Russia’s Business to Vote for President of Transdniestria
Of four candidates nominated to take part in this year’s presidential elections in Moldova’s self-proclaimed Republic of Transdniestria, only the current President Igor Smirnov has real chances. The elections lost all intrigue once, prompted by Moscow, the sole and strong rival of Smirnov, Supreme Council Speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk, pulled out of the battle.
Transdniestria holds presidential elections December 10, 2006. Yesterday was the last day for the candidates to nominate for taking part in elections.
As of today, four persons came forward as candidates, said Lyudmila Grossitskaya, secretary of the Central Election Commission. In the next move, all of them should submit the subscription lists, and the Central Election Commission will decide whether to register or reject a candidate within five days, Grossitskaya said.
Of all candidates, a self-perpetuating leader of Transdniestria, Igor Smirnov, proved the most disciplined. He was the first and yet the only one to provide subscription lists to the Central Election Commission, representatives of the latter specified.
Other candidates - Pyotr Tomaily, deputy of Supreme Council, Andrey Safonov, editor at local opposition newspaper, and Nadezda Bondarenko, editor of Pravda Pridnestrovie newspaper of the local Communist Party, - are in no hurry to provide the documents.
But the lack of agitation isn’t surprising. Apart from Smirnov, all other candidates are only the figurants in this battle.
For Smirnov, it will be the fourth successful election campaign in a row. His candidacy pleases both the regional bureaucrats, who came to power together with the president, and the Kremlin. Indeed, Smirnov not only protects the interests of Russia’s business in Transdniestria and has made private a raft of big enterprises already, but he is also a long and faithful ally of Moscow in relations with Chisinau.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 01, 2006
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