Moldova's election body confirms final election results

CHISINAU, August 4 (RIA Novosti) - Moldova's central election commission confirmed on Tuesday the final results of early parliamentary polls, the country's election chief said.

The final results show that the Communist Party won the July 29 elections with 44.7% of the vote, or 48 seats in the 101-member legislature, Yury Chokan said.

The Communists were followed by the Liberal-Democratic Party with 16.5%, the Liberal Party with 14.6%, the Democratic Party with 12.5% and the Our Moldova alliance which garnered 7.3% of the vote.

The four opposition parties will have 53 seats and if they manage to agree a coalition, could form a government and elect a parliamentary speaker.

However, the Communists and the opposition parties will need to work together to elect a new president, as both camps fell short of the 61 votes needed. If they fail to do so the former Soviet state could face a third election this year.

Under Moldovan law the country's Constitutional Court should now approve the Central Election Commission's final protocol.