CHISINAU - Mr Petru Lucinschi, a leading communist turned social democrat, was elected president of Moldova after beating the former Soviet republic's first post independence leader in a run off vote on Sunday. Preliminary results yesterday gave the 56 year old chairman of parliament an eight point winning margin over President Mircea Snegur, by 54 per cent to 46. Turnout was 72 per cent compared to 67 per cent in the first round on November 17th.