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Moldovan President Igor Dodon speaks to the media after voting at a polling station in Chisinau, capital of Moldova on Feb. 24, 2019. Almost 3 million voters of the Republic of Moldova are called on Sunday to elect the new parliament in a poll held simultaneously with a referendum on the reduction of the number of deputies. For the first time in the history of the country, the parliamentary elections take place on the basis of the mixed voting system, in which the deputies are elected simultaneously in a single national constituency and in 51 uninominal constituencies. (Xinhua)

BUCHAREST, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Almost 3 million voters of the Republic of Moldova are called on Sunday to elect the new parliament in a poll held simultaneously with a referendum on the reduction of the number of deputies.

For the first time in the history of the country, the parliamentary elections take place on the basis of the mixed voting system, in which the deputies are elected simultaneously in a single national constituency and in 51 uninominal constituencies.

Thus, 50 lawmakers will be elected on party lists and the other 51 will be elected in the uninominal constituencies.

Also on Sunday, the voters will participate in a consultative referendum to say whether they agree to cut the number of deputies from 101 to 61 and whether they back the idea that the people can dismiss lawmakers, if they fail to fulfill their duties.

As many as 14 political parties and an electoral bloc compete in the current poll. In order to enter parliament, the parties must exceed 6 percent of the total votes and the electoral blocs 8 percent.

Over 2,100 polling stations will be opened Sunday between 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and 9:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) in 51 constituencies in the country and over 120 stations abroad.

The overall number of voters registered in the State Register of Voters is 3.2 million citizens, of whom only 2.8 million are assigned in administrative and territorial units.

The parliamentary elections in Moldova will be monitored by over 4,000 national and international observers, and more than 8,000 policemen will be mobilized on the election day.

According to the polls, the Party of Socialists, which favors friendlier ties with Russia, is credited with the most votes, followed by the center-right electoral bloc "NOW," which brings together two parties favoring the European Union and NATO membership, and the Democratic Party, which leads the current pro-Western governing coalition. The Sor party of Mayor Ilan Sor would be the last party to pass the threshold of the parliament.

The latest estimates released Tuesday by the Intelligent Data Company showed that the Socialists would win 47 seats in total, followed by the NOW with 26 seats, the Democrats with 24 mandates and Sor 4 mandates.