Moldova CC to check legality of presid powers transfer to speaker

"Yesterday the parliament submitted to the CC for consideration a decision on vesting Ghimpu with the powers of the head of state. Then the Communists appealed this decision as they believe that the procedure was violated. Judges are considering both requests and are expected to deliver the final verdict today," Tira said.

The country's political situation development depends on the judges' decision: if they find that Ghimpy got the head of state's powers illegally the deputies will have hold voting again. If the court upholds this decision then Ghimpu is expected to submit for parliament's approval the candidature of prime minister - leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Vlad Filat who will start the formation of the cabinet.

The powers to Ghimpu were transferred from leader of the Communist Party Vladimir Voronin whose second and last term on the presidential post expired and he went to work in the parliament. Communist MP Vladimir Turkan explained to journalists that the decision on the transfer of the presidential powers to Ghimpu "was hasty and illegal," as the CC in the first place should have endorsed the decision of the lawmakers that the president's post is vacant.

After that the parliament will get down to the election of the new president who is to be elected within two months since resignation of Vladimir Voronin - before November 11. Moldovan president is elected by votes of 61 parliament deputies of the total 101 MPs, however, the newly formed ruling coalition has just 53 mandates, the rest 48 controlled by the Communists that went into opposition. Their leader Voronin has already said that the Communists would not vote for any presidential candidature nominated by the ruling coalition before they agree to a number of conditions set by the Communist Party. However, coalition leaders consider these conditions unacceptable and are certain that some of the Communists will support their candidature - Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu.

If the sides remain irreconcilable and the president is not elected in two attempts then the acting head of state will have to dissolve the parliament and set a date of early elections that will be held early next year. At them the Communists will try to have revenge for their defeat at the July parliamentary elections.

Moldova elects on national level a legislature. The Parliament has 101 members, elected for a four-year term by proportional representation with a 5% electoral threshold. The President is elected for a four-year term by a constitutional majority of 60% members of the Parliament; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.