Moldovan president urges new parliament to seek compromise in putting together govt
CHISINAU. March 21 (Interfax) - Moldovan President Igor Dodon has called on the members of the newly-elected parliament to seek a compromise in forming a government.
"The people expect you to make sure that the new parliament starts working as soon as possible. I urge you to seek a compromise and a dialogue," Dodon said at the first session of the new parliament on Thursday.
"I urge you to sit down at the negotiating table, discuss all matters so as to set up a legitimate parliamentary majority and endorse a government composition. I urge you not to fall victim to political arrogance, to sit at the negotiating table and start a constructive dialogue," he said.
Dodon also said he intended to invite the leaders of all parliamentary parties to hold consultations on the matter.
"I will sign a decree on nominating a candidacy for prime minister representing a ruling coalition. But only provided that this majority is set up on a legitimate basis, in accordance with the election's outcomes. I won't agree to a candidacy for prime minister if it is nominated by a coalition including defecting parliamentarians or in some other way. In this case, I believe it would be better if our people make a decision in new early elections," Dodon said.
An Interfax correspondent reported that the first session of the new Moldovan parliament lasted for less than one hour. The session was chaired by the oldest parliamentarian, a 79-year-old Eduard Smirnov of the Party of Socialists.
Representatives of three factions; the Party of Socialists, the Democratic Party, and the Shor Party, said at the session that they put together parliamentary factions numbering 35, 30, and seven lawmakers respectively.
The rightwing ACUM bloc said it needed more time to decide on forming one or more factions. The law allots ten days for this.
Smirnov, who chaired the session, acknowledged that no parliamentary majority had been established at the parliament and therefore the session could not be continued. Following this, a recess was called. The date and time of a new session will be announced later.
Four parties won parliamentary seats in the recent parliamentary elections in Moldova. The pro-Russian Party of Socialists (PSRM) got 35, the Democratic Party (PDM) 30, the rightwing ACUM bloc 26, and the Shor Party seven mandates. Three unaffiliated candidates who won in their single-mandate constituencies will also be represented in parliament.
The Constitutional Court confirmed the parliamentary mandates last Saturday.
The PSRM earlier invited ACUM to start talks to build a parliamentary majority, but the latter categorically refused to collaborate with either the Socialists or the Democrats.
The establishment of a coalition now seems unlikely, as there are fundamental disagreements between all the parliamentary parties. Most analysts view early elections as a more likely outcome.