CHISINAU, Moldova, March 7 (UPI) -- Moldovan voters have returned the pro-Western Communist Party to power, but with a reduced majority, the BBC reported Monday.
With 70 percent of the ballots in Sunday's parliamentary elections counted, the Communists won 46.66 percent of the vote.
Although the party is expected to retain an overall majority, it will not have enough seats to elect the president unaided.
The pro-Russia Bloc for Democratic Moldova came second, with 28.5 percent of the vote so far.
In third place, with 8.62 percent of the vote, were the right-of-center Christian Democrats, who favor links with neighboring Romania, with which Moldova shares a language and cultural traditions.
According to the BBC, election observers have claimed there were a number of violations, while the opposition parties have said the ballot was not free or fair. There have been calls for rallies Monday in protest.
Voter turnout was estimated at more than 60 percent.
