CHISINAU, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - Moldova's four main opposition parties announced that they have formed a coalition under the slogan For European Integration, coalition leaders said on Saturday.

"Moldova's foreign policy will be based on a three-point principle. First - European integration. Second - resuming good relations with neighboring states Ukraine and Romania. Third - a strategic partnership with our eastern partner Russia. This is our joint platform," Marian Lupu, a former Communist parliamentary speaker and now the leader of the Democratic Party, said.

The new coalition will have 53 seats in the 101-seat parliament, short of the 61 required to outright elect a presidential candidate.

The July 29 presidential elections were won by the ruling Communist Party with 44.7% of the vote or 48 seats. The opposition Liberal Democratic Party received 16.6% of the vote, the Liberal Party 14.7%, the Democratic Party 12.5%, and the Our Moldova alliance 7.3%.

If the opposition coalition and the Communist party fail to find a compromise presidential candidate then the former Soviet state could face a third election this year.

The Communists won 60 seats in the April election, which triggered violent protests in the capital, Chisinau. July's snap elections were forced after the opposition twice blocked the election of the presidential candidate proposed by incumbent president Vladimir Voronin, who is due to step down after two terms in office.