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Opposition accuses Moldovan president of usurping power

Igor Dodon, the leader of the Party of Socialists blames Nicolae Timofti of his inability to nominate a candidate for the prime minister’s post for 6 months

CHISINAU, December 15 /TASS/. Opposition leaders in Moldova have accused Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti of usurping power because of his inability to nominate a candidate for the prime minister’s post for 6 months, Igor Dodon, the leader of the Party of Socialists, said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Dodon asked Moldova’s Constitutional Court to recognize the fact of usurping power by Timofti.

"A term of 45 days since the resignation of the former prime minister expired on Monday. The president was supposed to nominate a new candidate for the prime minister’s post over that period of time. In view of the fact that the constitution has been violated, we are asking the Constitutional Court to state the fact that the power has been usurped," Dodon, whose part has the biggest faction in Moldova’s parliament, said. He believes that the accusation of power usurpation could serve as ground for initiating criminal proceedings against Timofti.

Marian Lupu, the leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, told journalists on Tuesday that his party could seek Timofti’s resignation if he nominated a candidate for the prime minister without consultations with other parliamentary parties.

According to Lupu, Timofti has become a hostage of one party and no longer represents the Moldovan people’s interests.

Moldova has been shaken by anti-government protests for the past 3 months. The situation became worse after Moldova’s former prime minister, Vladimir Filat, had been arrested on suspicion of corruption. Filat is the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, which forms the nucleus of the pro-European coalition. Later, the parliament voted for the resignation of a government led by Liberal Democrat Valeriu Strelet.

The fall of the second cabinet over the past 6 months has led to a new collapse of the ruling Alliance for European Integration, which has been in power in Moldova for the past five years. Moldova’s ruling pro-European coalition includes the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova; the Democratic Party of Moldova and the Liberal Party.