- Title: MOLDOVA: Parliament votes for new government
- Date: 17th January 2011
- Summary: CHISINAU, MOLDOVA (JANUARY 14, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PALACE OF THE REPUBLIC WHERE MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT SITS PARLIAMENT MEMBERS PRIME MINISTER VLAD FILAT COMING ONTO TRIBUNE (SOUNDBITE) (Moldovan) MOLDOVAN PRIME MINISTER, VLAD FILAT, SAYING: "According to the voters will, the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party united in the Alliance for European Integration have the parliament majority necessary to form the government. I want to take the opportunity to thank my colleagues in the Alliance for European Integration for the constructive atmosphere during the negotiations on forming a new Cabinet, and (I want to thank) the experts who developed the government programme." PARLIAMENT SESSION VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS VOTING FOR NEW GOVERNMENT FORMER MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT AND LEADER OF COMMUNIST PARTY VLADIMIR VORONIN SITTING, IGNORING THE VOTING FILAT RECEIVING FLOWERS CAMERAMEN FILAT KISSING MOLDOVAN FLAG AS PART OF INAUGURATION CEREMONY MEDIA PARLIAMENT MEMBERS TAKING GLASSES WITH CHAMPAGNE FILAT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AND HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY MARIAN LUPU CLINKING GLASSES WITH OTHER OFFICIALS PARLIAMENT MEMBERS
- Embargoed: 1st February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Moldova, Republic of
- Country: Moldova, Republic of
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVACR4P2PQM7XEN4UCB88T3EG38C
- Story Text: Moldova's parliament on Friday (January 14) approved a new West-leaning government with a programme which endorsed integration into the European mainstream as a goal for the tiny ex-Soviet republic.
Adoption of the new cabinet, presented by Prime Minister Vlad Filat, is a first step to election later in the year of a president to end a political stalemate that has blocked reform. Three parties re-formed the Alliance for European Integration coalition after defeating the powerful opposition Communists in an election last November.
On Friday, the support of its 59 members in parliament was enough to install the new government, even though the communists refused to take part in the vote.
Filat, presenting his government's programme to parliament, thanked his colleagues for constructive negotiations.
"According to the voters will, the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party united in the Alliance for European Integration have parliament majority necessary to form the government. I want to take the opportunity to thank my colleagues in the Alliance for European Integration for constructive atmosphere during the negotiations on forming new Cabinet, and (I want to thank) the experts who developed the government programme," Filat said.
Filat set joining the European mainstream as one of the main goals, however he also went on to say that maintaining strategic relations with Russia, the United States, Romania and Ukraine would also be a priority.
Russia -- which supplies Moldova with most of its energy needs -- and European Union member Romania have long vied for influence in the landlocked country of 4.5 million.
Moldova, which has borders with Romania and Ukraine, is one of Europe's poorest states with an average salary of 240 USD a month. Poor job prospects are driving more young Moldovans to go and work abroad, depriving the country of skilled labour.
Filat pledged renewed efforts to lift people out of poverty and to combat widespread corruption.
The pro-West leadership still faces the task of trying to push through the election of a president to complete Moldova's political jigsaw and move forward with a reform programme.
The election of a president is carried out by parliament in Moldova and -- unlike approval of the new government -- requires at least 61 votes in the 101-seat assembly.
Opposition communists were able twice to block the Alliance's candidate for president in 2009. The Alliance is now stronger with 59 votes in parliament and though it is still two short of the required 61 it is hoping to secure two defections from the communists to secure election of its candidate.
The Alliance's candidate for president could again be Marian Lupu, a centre-left politician who heads the Democratic Party in the three-party coalition.
He is now parliament speaker and, as such, will exert the functions of acting president until a fresh attempt is made to elect a full-time president. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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