Timofti says Moldovan president must be elected by people
CHISINAU. Feb 25 (Interfax) - Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti has called for restricting presidential powers and holding universal presidential elections.
"Moldova is not a presidential republic yet the head of state should be elected by the people. I do not mean to say that I am dependent on those who have elected me but like it or not such interpretations are being made. The president must be elected by people," Timofti told reporters on Tuesday after a sitting of the Moldovan Supreme Security Council.
The president said his powers should continue to be reduced.
"The president of a parliamentary republic does not need vast powers; they should be restricted," said Timofti, who was elected to the presidency two years ago. His election by the parliamentary majority of the Alliance for European Integration put an end to the protracted political crisis, which had lasted for 917 days.
The powers of former President Vladimir Voronin expired on April 7, 2009. The parliament failed to elect a new president with three-fifth of votes (61 out of 101) and early parliamentary elections were held twice, on July 29, 2009, and on November 28, 2010. Former Chairman of the Supreme Magistrate Council Timofti was elected president on March 12, 2012. The opposition Party of Communists considered his election illegal.
