Moldova president to announce name of future premier

Chisinau, 21 December /MOLDPRES/ - President Nicolae Timofti is to announce the name of the future prime minister. The leaders of the pro-European parties today made statements to this effect following a meeting with the head of state.

The decision was taken after the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), Democratic Party (PDM) and Liberal Party (PL) had failed to reach consensus on the nomination of a candidate for the office of prime minister.

The PLDM acting leader, Valeriu Strelet, said that "we have again ascertained the that the parties have no common vision on the principle of who has right to put forward a candidate. The head of state said he reserves the right to nominate a candidate by himself, and he/she will probably be appointed today," Strelet said.

PDM leader Marian Lupu said that no progress had been achieved at the today's meeting either. "The same things were repeated. I just may point out the stance of PDM, that a formula has been applied during six years and we believe that it should work in continuation. It is up to the head of state to take a decision. Fragments on the name were voiced, yet we expect the president to announce the decision," Lupu said.   

After the meeting, PL leader Mihai Ghimpu said that "more names were pronounced. It is doubtless that we will not participate in the voting of a government along with the 14 MP who left the faction of the Party of Communists (PCRM) today," Ghimpu said.

The leader of the European People's Party of Moldova (PPEM), Iurie  Leanca, said that "it is regrettable that we have been in full incapacity to create a majority for eight weeks. We believe that Nicolae Timofti must appoint a candidate," Leanca said.

A former Moldovan prime minister, Ion Sturza, went to the residence of President Nicolae Timofti on a visit, immediately after the head of state had met the leaders of the pro-European parties. 

Also today, a group of 14 Communist lawmakers informed that they left the PCRM faction. At the same time, these MPs said this group would create its own parliamentary platform - Social Democratic Platform for Moldova.  

During the six years of the pro-European parties' governance, the party with most mandates of the parliamentary majority used to put up candidates for the post of prime minister. Presently, PLDM holds 19 mandates, initially having 23 seats following the parliamentary polls. PDM is represented also by 19 MPs in parliament, PL has 13 lawmakers and Iurie Leanca's group is made up of three MPs. 

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor M. Jantovan)