Moldovan PM tops list of most influential politicians

Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat continues to rank first on the «Top 50 most influential Moldovan politicians in September 2012».

He is followed by Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca and Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, ranking second and respectively third on the top. The top was carried out by the institute of political analysis and consultancy Politicon.

Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu fell by two positions against 2011, ranking fourth on the same top. Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti, after a rising of 96 positions against 2011, ranks fifth on the same top. He is followed by the leader of the Liberal Party, Mihai Ghimpu, and the leader of the opposition Party of Communists, Vladimir Voronin. First Deputy Speaker Vladimir Plahotniuc ranks eighth. He is followed by the chairman of the Democratic Party, Dumitru Diacov, and the deputy head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Valeriu Strelet.

Politicon centre's director Anatol Taranu described the year 2012 as the one in which Moldova's political life came back to normal. «In 2012, the ruling alliance surpassed a huge institutional crisis, the president was elected, the danger of snap polls was removed and Moldova advanced in the European integration path", Taranu said. He said the year 2013 may be described as a year of "great alternatives», in which Moldova will choose the strategic path for development.

The top of the most influent politicians is compiled based on an assessment made by 32 experts. The politicians are evaluated depending on their influence on major decisions, their public popularity, their visibility in the media, as well as their political prospects.

Adapted from Moldpres