Moldovan Parliament Passes Censure Motion Against Pro-European Government

Prime Minister of Moldova Valeriu Strelet gestures at the central tribune of Moldova`s Parliament in Chisinau, Moldova, 29 October 2015. Photo: BGNES

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.

The no confidence vote was initiated by the opposition Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) and the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM).

The two opposition parties have 45 MPs between them, but lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), which is part of the coalition government, also voted in favour of the censure motion.

The MPs from the other two parties constituting the coalition government - the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) and the Liberal Party (PL), abstained.

Earlier on Thursday, Marian Lipu, the leader of PDM, called on Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet to resign.

However Strelet refused to submit his resignation as this would mean acknowledging the corruption allegations against him.

Furthermore, the stepping down of the prime minister would delay vital negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The government is accused of a massive bank fraud, which resulted in the disappearance of USD 1.5 B from three Moldovan banks ahead of the 2014 parliamentary elections.

Former Prime Minister Vlad Filat was arrested on October 15 on charges of accepting bribes of USD 260 M, the bribes allegedly being part of the bank fraud.

Protesters have held demonstrations in central Chisinau demanding the resignation of the government since early September.

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