CHISINAU (RFE/RL) -- Moldova's ruling Communist Party is asking three opposition parties to reverse plans to block the election of the country's next president in an effort to force early parliamentary elections, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.
The call came during the Moldovan parliament's first session in Chisinau on May 5.
Outgoing President Vladimir Voronin is constitutionally barred from running again and was elected a deputy in the controversial elections on April 5.
A three-fifths majority in parliament is needed to elect the president.
The Communists won 60 seats in the 101-member legislature, one vote short of the number needed to elect their candidate, who they have not yet named.
Voronin has said "it will be easy" to attract one or more votes from the opposition parties, but opposition leaders say their deputies will not vote for a president.
That could lead to the holding of new elections.
Parliament is expected to name the date it will vote for president at its next session on May 12.