Moldovan president starts consultations with parliament to form new govt
CHISINAU. Nov 12 (Interfax) - Moldovan President Igor Dodon has invited the parliamentary factions to start consultations on forming a new government.
"Proceeding from my constitutional duties as president, I invite all parliamentary factions to start consultations on forming a new government tomorrow. The president has three months for nominating a candidate for prime minister and a new government's endorsement by the parliament. However, we are on the verge of winter, and we have no time. We must reach an agreement and form a new government quickly," Dodon said at a press conference dealing with the government's resignation on Tuesday.
He set the time for meetings with each parliamentary faction.
Taking questions from journalists, Dodon said, "It has to be found out in the course of consultations whether a parliamentary majority exists or not."
"If this parliamentary majority still exists, it should propose a candidate for prime minister. I pledge to nominate any candidacy except for former prime minister Maia Sandu. And she would have to facilitate the government's work as part of the bloc," he said.
If there is no parliamentary majority, Dodon said he would take the initiative.
"I believe a government of technocrats rather than politicians can be formed. And it will succeed. If the parliamentarians from the ACUM bloc don't want to avoid early elections, I will assume responsibility and nominate a politically independent candidate for prime minister who would be able to govern the country professionally," he said.
The pro-presidential Party of Socialists (PSRM) will not build a coalition with the opposition Democratic Party (PDM) led by the fugitive tycoon Vladimir Plahotniuc, he said.
"Why? Because. There can be only one coalition, by the PSRM and the ACUM bloc, or no other coalition in this parliament," he said.
On Tuesday, the 101-seat Moldovan parliament voted for the government led by Prime Minister Maia Sandu to resign. The decision was supported at a parliament session by 63 lawmakers from the Party of Socialists and the Democratic Party. The parliamentarians from the ACUM bloc voted against the decision, and the rest abstained.