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Vladimir Voronin CHISINAU, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Moldova's parliament decided on Tuesday to vote next week to replace former communist President Vladimir Voronin, but there is little sign of ending a deadlock between communists and a new Western-leaning government.

Failure to finally approve a new president, who is chosen by parliament rather than through popular vote, could force yet another parliamentary election, after one in April and another in July.

The government and its four-party coalition in parliament lack the votes after the July vote to impose a presidential candidate, and the communists, the only other party in the assembly, have so far refused to back the government's choice.

Parliament in Europe's poorest nation decided to hold the vote next Tuesday after last week scrapping a law that said more than one candidate must run for president.

The government had hoped to circumvent communist stalling by scrapping the rule which effectively allows the vote to go ahead with just one candidate standing -- the coalition's choice of Marian Lupu.

But the communists on Tuesday insisted again they would not vote for Lupu -- a communist defector. If the coalition fails to obtain eight votes from among the communists' 48 MPs, another vote would have to be tabled.

If the second vote fails, a new parliamentary election must be called. This is the situation the communists were in after an April election which they won, but left them lacking one vote to impose their presidential candidate.

In power for eight years, Voronin was unable to stand for a third consecutive term.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas, writing by Sabina Zawadzki, editing by Michael Roddy)