CHISINAU, November 10 (RIA Novosti) - Moldova's Communists boycotted presidential polls on Tuesday as parliament attempted for the third time this year to elect a head of the ex-Soviet state.

The Communists, who hold 48 seats in Moldova's 101-member parliament, said they declined "to take part in the political farce" and "vote for a traitor." 61 votes are needed to elect a president.

Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu was the sole candidate. A former Communist, Lupu left the party after it failed to nominate him for president in the summer.

Under Moldovan law, another attempt will be held in 30 days. If this brings no result, acting president and parliamentary speaker Mihai Ghimpu will be forced to dissolve the legislature and set early parliamentary polls.

However, a new parliamentary election cannot be held before next fall. Parliament was last dissolved on June 16, 2009.

Snap elections on July 29 gave the Communist Party 12 votes fewer than the 60 they won in the April 5 elections.

Ghimpu has been Moldova's acting president since September 11, when Vladimir Voronin stepped down after serving two consecutive four-year presidential terms.

Ghimpu, who leads the Liberal Party, has in the past openly supported unification with Romania, and earlier issued an order to annul a visa regime with Romania introduced by the Communist government after post-election riots in the capital Chisinau in April.