Chisinau - Moldova's parliament agreed Thursday to postpone until June 3 a second vote to elect a new president, officially out of religious considerations but in a move which analysts believe was politically motivated.

A motion was presented by the Communists not to hold the vote Thursday as planned, on the argument that on a religious holiday - the Orthodox Church's Ascension Day - there should not be any "controversial debates," the RIA Novosti agency reported.

But political observers believed that the move for postponement was based more on a move to gain time for negotiations ahead of the elections. The Communists are one vote shy of the necessary support to get their candidate, Premier Zinaida Greceanii, elected.

The first round of voting in parliament on May 20 ended inconclusively due to resistance put up by the opposition.

If a second attempt in parliament to elect a new president fails, then the constitution stipulates that the country must hold new parliamentary elections.

Moldova, a former Soviet state, is to elect a new president since the current office holder, Communist Party chief Vladimir Voronin, must step down after his second term of office expires. (dpa)