Former Moldovan president and communist leader Vladimir Voronin speaks to former Moldovan Prime Minister Zinaida GrecianiiFormer Moldovan president and communist leader Vladimir Voronin ( R ) speaks to former Moldovan prime minister Zinaida Grecianii ( L ) before a vote on pro - European Alliance candidate for Moldovan president , Marian Lupu , during a parliament session in the Republican Palace in Chisinau , Moldova 07 December 2009 . Moldova ' s parliament failed 07 December to elect a new president in a critical showdown vote , intensifying a political crisis in the former Soviet republic . A total of 53 MPs in Moldova ' s 101 - seat legislature voted in favour of candidate Marian Lupu , put forward by the country ' s pro - Europe ruling coalition . But 48 MPs loyal to Moldova ' s Communist Party abstained from voting and exited parliament shortly before the poll . They left Lupu eight votes short of a 61 - member majority necessary for a presidential candidate ' s election under Moldovan law . EPA / DUMITRU DORU < 뉴스 의 새 시대 , 연합뉴스 Live > < 연합뉴스 폰 > < 포토 매거진 >< 저작권자 ( c ) 연합뉴스 . 무단 전재 - 재배 포금 지 . >