Moldova Court Appoint Parliament Speaker as Acting President

Ghimpu's first act, now that his position has been confirmed, is expected to be the nomination of a prime minister. Photo by BGNES

A Moldovan court has confirmed on Thursday the Parliament Speaker, Mihai Ghimpu, as acting president.

A statement by the Constitutional Court recognized Ghimpu, who is also one of the leaders in a pro-European coalition, as acting president, rejecting a procedural challenge by the communists, BGNES reported.

The pro-European coalition won a parliamentary election in July over the communists, gaining enough seats to form a government but not to elect a president.

Veteran communist president, Vladimir Voronin, in power since 2001 but not allowed to run for a third consecutive term, stayed on in power but then quit on Sept. 11.

Ghimpu's first act, now that his position has been confirmed, is expected to be the nomination of a prime minister.

Ghimpu has to organize an election for president by the Members of the Parliament. However, this is not likely to happen until late October.