Vlad Filat continues to top rankings of 50 most influential politicians

Prime Minister Vlad Filat firmly holds the lead in the rankings of 50 most influential politicians of the month compiled by “Politicon”. The September surprise is the Communist leader Vladimir Voronin, who climbed three spots. Judge Victor Puscas is also among the top ten personalities, Info-Prim Neo reports. At the initiative of the Center for Strategic Research and Political Consultancy “Politicon”, 26 political experts, analysts and sociologists give grades of 0 to 10 to politicians every month. Vlad Filat tops the rankings with 235 points scored. He is followed by Acting President Marian Lupu with 200 points. Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca comes third at a difference of only two points. “I presume that Vlad Filat will strengthen even more his position the next month if no dramatic events take place. The competition between Lupu and Chirtoaca becomes stiffer and they may change places in October if there are events that will put one of them in a favorable light,” “Politicon” head Anatol Taranu said in a conference. The Communist leader Vladimir Voronin ascended three positions to the fourth, while the leader of the Liberal Party Mihai Ghimpu comes fifth as in the previous rankings. Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Leanca fell two spots to the sixth, while Communist lawmaker Igor Dodon went up nine places to the seventh. Igor Dodon is followed by Vladimir Plahotniuc, Dumitru Diacov, and constitutional judge Victor Puscas. “Voronin continues to play an important role in the political life of Moldova and thus went up again in the rankings. His success is also due to the Communist Party’s policy on the political crisis and the election of the head of state,” said Anatol Taranu. He also said that Igor Dodon’s return to the rankings is due to his good image in the media. The disputes inside the PCRM that seldom come out make Igor Dodon an important person and move him up in experts’ preferences. “Potentially, Dodon has well-define political prospects, but if his visibility in the media wanes he may leave the top ten group,” said the expert. Anatol Taranu stressed that Victor Puscas played an important part in one of the most important events – the dismissal of the Constitutional Court president Dumitru Pulbere. “I’m sure he will lose this position the next month,” he said. Judge Dumitru Pulbere takes the 12th position in the rankings. Anatol Taranu explained that Victor Puscas and Dumitru Pulbere were included in the list of politicians because they hold important posts in institutions that have a great say in the Moldovan politics. The leader of the Democratic Action Party Mihai Godea ranked 37th, down ten positions compared with a month before. “Several months ago he was among the top ten politicians. After he left the Liberal-Democratic Party, his real influence started to be doubted by the experts. It will not be a surprise for me if he leaves the rankings one day,” said the “Politicon” head. The September rankings are closed by Valentina Buliga, Pavel Filip and Alexandru Oleinic.