Will Recount In Moldova Change Anything?

A recount of nearly 1.5 million ballots began today after President Vladimir Voronin called for another look into the election in the wake of last week's massive protests in the capital city of Chisnau that left one dead, another 90 injured, and saw 200 people arrested.

The recounts will take place at more than 2,000 polling places across the ex-Soviet state. Opposition parties are boycotting the recount, saying that if they were to participate, it would only legitimise the results when tallied up. Voronin's Communist party has been accused of adding up to 400,000 ballots, some accounting for people living abroad and some for people already dead, according to opposition leaders.

However, the recount begs the question: if the elections were rigged in the first place, how will a recount by the same party leaders come up with any differing results? While Voronin's party vehemently denies any such tampering, early exit polls in the election showed the party winning 38% of the votes, only to come out of the elections with 50%, a majority which would allow the party to amend the constitution and give Voronin a third term currently not allowed under Moldovan law.

It seems that when all is said and done Friday, there will be no change to the election results. After all, when was the last time any state leader who won election gave up his power and admitted tampering and that an opposition leader should instead be in power? It would be political suicide, and could lead to even worse things for Voronin.

Don't be surprised if the latest news out of Moldova Saturday is more protests, possibly turning violent. While it seems only a few of last week's protesters took part in the destruction of government offices and that most were peaceful, a rigged-election turned rigged-recount in the minds of the protesters won't bode well for the standing government - if it is standing much longer.

**UPDATE: If you would like to find out more about what is happening in Moldova in relation to protests, alleged brutality, and possible government fraud, Jamie Dodge has directed me to this blog from a source inside Moldova that has many posts relating to such things as well as reaction from European governments. Jamie's blog, which also has information, can be found here.