Moldovan president rejects prime minister's candidature proposed by parliament

Moldova’s President Nicolae Timofti has rejected proposal of the parliamentary majority to appoint Vladimir Plahotniuc as prime minister.

“The president resorted to his constitutional right and informs the parliamentary majority and the public that he rejects candidature of Vladimir Plahotniuc for the prime minister’s post,” a statement released by the presidential press office says.

Nicolae Timofti explained his decision by provisions of the Constitution of Moldova and verdicts of the Constitutional Court that ruled on April 22, 2013 that “any political mandate must be based on high standards of honesty” and “appointing for top positions of persons of dubious reputation contradicts the principles of the rule-of-law state.”

According to Timofti, there are grounded suspicions that Vladimir Plahotniuc does not meet criteria to be appointed as prime minister taking into account the fact that the parliament voted no confidence to Plahotniuc, when he was deputy chair of the parliament, as there were claims that he was involved in illegal activities.

The position of the Moldovan president was supported by members of the European Parliament. Romanian MEP Monica Macovei said that proposing Plahotniuc as candidate for prime minister’s post is “a toxic present from politicians to Moldovan people.”

President Timofti proposes that the parliamentary majority names another candidate by noon of January 14.

To remind, Moldova entered the new year without a government while facing a deep political crisis. The government headed by Valeriu Strelet was dissolved on October 29. After that there was a conflict between the ruling alliance resulting in collapse of the pro-European coalition.

The negotiations of politicians of forming the new parliamentary majority and proposing a single candidate for prime minister’s post lasted about three months. Leaders of the Liberal-Democratic Party refused to come to a consensus insisting that a candidate for prime minister’s post must be from the party. As a result, President Timofti appointed his candidate, businessman Ion Sturza.

On January 4, MPs boycotted the voting for Sturza. The session of the parliament failed as there were not enough MPs.

Earlier, the Constitutional Court of Moldova ruled that if the parliament fails to form the new government by January 29, it can be dissolved.