CHISINAU, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Moldova's parliament failed to elect the West-leaning Marian Lupu as president on Tuesday after a communist walkout left the four-party governing coalition short of vital votes.

The move by the opposition communists left only the 53 deputies in the Alliance for European Integration to take part in the vote -- eight short of the 61 required for a president to be elected.

(Writing by Richard Balmforth)