Moldovan defence minister expelled from party leadership

Chisinau, 17 December /MOLDPRES/- The Republican Council of the Liberal Party (PL) today excluded Defence Minister Anatol Salaru from the office of first deputy head of the faction, member of the political bureau and member of republican council, after Salaru submitted an application on the matter this morning.

PL leader Mihai Ghimpu said the decision had been taken according to Salaru’s intention to break the faction and party. “I accepted all declarations against me, but I could not remain indifferent to the fact that Salaru began to persuade certain members to leave the faction, so I decided to release him from the leading position of the party. In this context, I had only one vote against and two abstentions, the others supported my project,” Ghimpu said.

“Mr. Salaru delivered a speech today, and he did not want to hear the colleagues’ opinion. Although, he will remain a party member. I believe that next days, acting president Nicolae Timofti will sign a decree on dismissal of Salaru from the office of Defence Minister,” Ghimpu said.

At the same time, Salaru said “the party lost credibility, we are isolated from Romania and all. I decided to remain party member. I called on Ghimpu to resign, if he wants to be among voter preferences in 2018. If he resigns, I leave all positions, in order to show him I do not want to be in his position,” Salaru said.

This week, the PL political bureau announced on withdrawing the political support of Salaru. Subsequently, Ghimpu said he had signed a petition on dismissal of Salaru from the office of Defence Minister. The petition was sent to the prime minister and is to be submitted to the president to be signed.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor A. Răileanu)