Leading EU countries offer support for new Moldovan parliament, govt
CHISINAU. June 11 (Interfax) - A number of leading European Union countries have voiced support for the new Moldovan parliament and government.
"France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland and Sweden have noted with close attention the recent developments in the Republic of Moldova," the embassies of these countries to Moldova said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
"Following the Parliamentary elections, a democratically-elected Parliamentary majority has taken important decisions including the formation of a government. In the current constitutional crisis, we see and support the Parliament of Moldova as the representative of the people of Moldova, and as the best place to discuss all political issues including controversial ones," the statement said.
France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Sweden called for "calm and restraint."
"All the sides bear responsibility for the resolution of this constitutional crisis by peaceful means," it said.
Switzerland declared its support for the new Moldovan parliament, too. The Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova, which performs ambassadorial functions in the country, said in a statement that "the expression of the will of the Moldovan people in those elections [the parliamentary elections on February 24] must be respected."
Switzerland additionally "welcomes the request made by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, asking the Venice Commission to deliver an urgent opinion on the latest decisions of the Moldovan Constitutional Court" and believes that "calm and restraint shall prevail for the benefit of all Moldovans," the statement said.
It was reported on Monday that the Russian Foreign Ministry, the United States Department of State, the Council of Europe secretary general, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe chairperson-in-office, the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, and other international officials and organizations officially supported the new Moldovan government set up by the right-wing ACUM bloc and the Party of Socialists (PSRM) on June 8.
PSRM leader Zinaida Greceanii has been elected parliamentary chairperson, and Maia Sandu, the leader of the right-wing Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), the prime minister.
However, the Constitutional Court, which some local observers believe is following instructions of the Democratic Party, declared the parliament's actions as illegitimate. The Court ruled on Sunday to suspend President Igor Dodon and authorize former Prime Minister Pavel Filip to dissolve the parliament. The latter immediately signed a decree dissolving the parliament and calling early elections on September 6.
The parliament, in turn, declared all rulings by the Constitutional Court to be illegitimate and outlawed the Democratic Party and the government led by Filip, who also chairs the party's parliamentary faction.
President Igor Dodon on Tuesday reversed Filip's decree as one "grossly violating the law."