Moldova's Liberal Party leaves ruling coalition following Chisinau mayor arrest
CHISINAU. May 27 (Interfax) - Moldova's Liberal Party said it is leaving the ruling coalition of Moldova.
"This decision was made by the Republican Council of the Liberal Party. We discussed the situation and we came to the conclusion that we cannot stay in the coalition anymore. We are leaving the ruling alliance and we are joining the opposition," Liberal Party leader Mihai Ghimpu told a press conference.
"Three ministers from the Liberal Party will announce their resignation on Monday. I think President Igor Dodon will gladly sign decrees on their dismissal," he said.
Ghimpu confirmed that this decision is connected to the arrest of Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, who is first deputy chairman of the party and a nephew of Mihai Ghimpu.
"It's not a fight against corruption, it's a political order. They are allegedly fighting corruption, but they are really fighting the Liberal Party. This party was an anti-Communist Party, for truth, for prosperity. They don't like it that we support a union with Romania. We will continue working to put an end to this mess, this poverty - it is only possible after a union with Romania," Ghimpu said.
The Liberal Party has 11 deputies in the parliament. Forty-one deputies remained in the parliamentary majority after the Liberal Party left the ruling coalition. However, ten deputies from the European People's Party, who previously left the Liberal Democratic Party voted together with he ruling coalition in the past few months.
The Democratic Party, which makes up the foundation of the ruling coalition, already said that the Liberal Party's withdrawal will have no effect on the party's work.
"The Democratic Party has taken note of the Liberal Party's decision to leave the ruling coalition. This decision will be analyzed at the weekly meeting of the Democratic Party on Tuesday. We have full understanding for some statements and the emotional reaction, but issues relating to the fight against corruption should be resolved in the law enforcement agencies, not inside parties and political alliances," the Democratic Party said in a press statement issued on Friday evening.
The Democrats said that "the ruling coalition will stay functional in the future and the government has full political support for the implementation of reforms and an approved governance program."