Politics of Moldova

Bucharest has voiced concerns about continuing political uncertainty in Moldova after its  president and a coalition of political parties failed to reach a compromise agreement over who will become the country's next prime minister.

Romanians have welcomed news that Moldovan President Nicolae Timofit has asked Ion Sturza, a wealthy pro-Western businessman who also has Romanian citizenship, to form a new government.

"This is a good news as Sturza has a clear a pro-European outlook. The problem is that he has to form a new political majority in Moldova, which is not easy,"  journalist Cristian Pantazi said.

The parliament of Moldova passed a vote of no confidence in the country's pro-European coalition government.

A total of 65 out of 101 MPs voted in favour of the censure motion on Thursday, TASS news agency informs.

Romania expressed concern about the continuing political uncertainty in the neighbouring country after former Moldovan prime minister and leader of the ruling pro-European coalition, Vlad Filat, was detained on Thursday on suspicion of involvement in a $1.5 billion bank fraud.

The Prime Minister of Moldova Chiril Gaburici announced on Friday his resignation, a day after the prosecution questioned him on his high-school and university diplomas.

Gaburici expressed regret that questions on his studies had become "an instrument of political game", making no comments on the contents of the allegations, Radio Free Europe reports.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu discussed with his Moldovan counterpart Natalia Gherman the denial of access to the Republic of Moldova for Romanian citizen George Simion.

Moldova has banned a Romanian citizen who champions the cause of reunification with Romania - of which Moldova was once a part.

Romania's Embassy in Chisinau took several steps with the authorities of the Republic of Moldova and asked for clarifications concerning the situation of Romanian citizen George Simion, after it found out from public sources, on Wednesday, about his being detained by representatives of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum of the neighbouring country.

The Parliament in Chisinau will discuss on Friday a draft bill granting a status of a 'national-cultural region' to Taraclia, an area in southwestern Moldova with predominantly ethnic Bulgarian population, BGNES reported.

Taraclia is home to more than 30,000 ethnic Bulgarians - the largest ethnic Bulgarian community in Moldova.

The National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors have put Radu Pricop, the son-in-law of former president Traian Basescu, under a 60-day judiciary surveillance, as he is accused of accessory to blackmail in a criminal file regarding Sergiu Lucinschi, the son of former Moldovan president, Petru Lucinschi.

Photo credit: (c) Silviu MATEI / AGERPRES FLOW