Dorin Chirtoaca surpasses Vladimir Voronin in influential politicians’ rankings

Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca climbed to the third spot in the April rankings of 50 most influential politicians in Moldova – TOP 50 – that is complied by the Strategic Researches and Political Consultancy Center “Politicon”. The first two positions are taken by Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Head of Parliament Marian Lupu, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vlad Filat tops the list the fifth month in a row. In April, he scored 203 points, by 20 fewer than in March. The leader of the PLDM obtained 11 grades of ‘10’, while the PDM head Marian Lupu – seven grades of ‘10’ and a total of 184 points. Dorin Chirtoaca scored 171 points and three grades of ‘10’. He outstripped the Communist leader Vladimir Voronin, who was the third in the March rankings, but slipped to the fourth spot in April with 159 points and four grades of ‘10’. The fifth place is taken by ex-Minister of Justice Alexandru Tanase, judge at the Constitutional Court, with 158 points. He is followed by Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca, who garnered 157 points. The PCRM’s candidate for the mayoralty of Chisinau Igor Dodon ranks seventh, up from the tenth spot in March. The leader of the PL Mihai Ghimpu comes next. He is followed by the former first vice president of the PLDM Mihai Godea. First Deputy Speaker Vlad Plahotniuc climbed ten spots from March to the tenth position. “Politicon” head Anatol Taranu said the improved ratings of Dorin Chirtoaca and Igor Dodon are due to the election campaign. He said the PLDM’s candidate for mayor of Chisinau Victor Bodiu ranked 11th, up 12 spots, while the PDM’s candidate for the same post Valentina Buliga – moved up three spots, to the 12th. Twenty-three political experts, analysts, journalists and sociologists give grades of ‘0’ to ‘10’ to politicians every month. The 50 politicians were selected out of 100 participants. The list is updated every month. The last ten persons who score the lowest number of points are replaced. For the first time, the rankings include the leader of the PNL Vitalia Pavlichenko (50th), businessman and ex-Premier Ion Sturza (21st), Chisinau councilor Oleg Cernei (25th), Minister of the Interior Alexei Roibu (18th), and president of Transnistria’s Supreme Soviet Anatolii Kaminschii (49th).