CHISINAU -- Moldova's ruling Communist Party, which won a large majority in last month's controversial parliamentary elections, has named party leader and outgoing President Vladimir Voronin as its candidate for parliament speaker, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.
The election for the parliament leadership is expected to be held on May 12.
Meanwhile, there is still no word on who might replace Voronin as the country's president, who is also elected by parliament.
Voronin has not mentioned any candidates but said earlier this year "there is one person who doesn't even know he has been chosen."
With 60 seats in the 101-member parliament, the Communists will need one deputy from one of the three opposition parties in order to reach the three-fifths majority needed to elect a president.
The opposition parties have said they will abstain from voting in the presidential election, in hopes of forcing early elections.