RSS
ForMin Melescanu: We are concerned about current explosive situation in Republic of Moldova
Early electionson September 6 would be the only solution for the crisis in the Republic of Moldova, Teodor Melescanu, Foreign minister in Romania's Social Democratic (PSD) -led government, said on Monday. It is the first clear position from a relevant Romanian official since the political crisis spiraled in Chisinau this weekend.
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis during the weekend has made a non-engaging statement supporting the rule of law and dialogue in the neighboring country, while EU officials delivered a much clearer stand, saying they recognised the new government of Moldova.
That Government, led by Maia Sandu, is the result of an alliance between Sandu's movement and the Socialists led by President Dodon, aiming at removing oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc from power. But Plahotniuc, who controls the Democratic government that led the country so far, used his control of the Constitutional Court to block the president, dissolve the parliament and declare Sandu's government illegal. Plahotniuc is calling for early elections.
In his first statements on the issue, Melescanu agreed with the idea of early elections. "As an old time politician, I'm telling you, when things turn to a mess the only solution is to turn to voters", he said, specifying that he was speaking of "elections on September 6, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova".
He said this was his point of view, not the point of view of the ministry. Asked about the recognition to Maia Sandu's government, Melescanu said that "diplomatically speaking there is no institution of recognising a government, the only way in international law is the recognition of states. The recognition of a government is not a solution, as each state has the right to choose the government it considers fit".
Melescanu also said Monday that Romania's Ambassador to Chisinau, Daniel Ionita, attended a meeting organized by President Igor Dodon, and the agenda of the diplomat was also a meeting with the leaders of the Democratic Party of Moldova.
"Today, we have given instructions to our Chisinau ambassador to attend a meeting organized by President Dodon together with other EU Member States. The meeting lasted for 15 minutes and only President Dodon spoke, after which no other Member State of the European Union said anything," Melescanu said.
The head of Romanian diplomacy spoke about the danger of protests in the Republic of Moldova.
"We are concerned that there is an explosive situation at present in Chisinau, in the Republic of Moldova (...), the priority is the European path of the Republic of Moldova," Teodor Melescanu said.
In his opinion, a solution is "the return to the electorate", namely snap elections in this country, on 6 September.
President Klaus Ihannis has addressed on Sunday a message to all political forces in the Republic of Moldova for respect of democracy and the rule of law.
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said that the Romanian officials should have "a country position, a position of Romania" regarding the current political situation in the Republic of Moldova, not a position of the president, its prime minister or of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
„ We will co-operate and have a country position on the Republic of Moldova in the shortest possible time. It has to be Romania's position, and to that end I will talk to the Foreign Ministry, to the Presidential Administration, to the president," Prime Minister Viorica Dancila told TVR1 public broadcaster on Monday.
***
France, Germany, the UK, Poland and Sweden have announced on Monday they ‘support’ the parliament of the Republic of Moldova, writes AFP.
‘In the present constitutional crisis we consider the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova as the representative of the people of the republic of Moldova and the most appropriate place for the debate of the political matters, including the most controversial ones, and we support them in this position’ according to a joint press release of the 5 countries quoted by the source mentioned above.
***
Political uncertainty is deepening în Republic of Moldova.The Government led by Maia Sandu is the result of an alliance between Sandu's movement and the Socialists led by President Dodon, aiming at removing oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc from power. But Plahotniuc, who controls the Democratic government that led the country so far, used his control of the Constitutional Court to block the president, dissolve the parliament and declare Sandu's government illegal. Plahotniuc is calling for early elections.
The Maia Sandu cabinet has been invested in Monday, following the agreement of ACUM with the Socialists and formally recognized by the European Union, but declared illegitimate by CCM, which is controlled by Plahotniuc. The Government sitting took place at the Parliament.
In turn, a sitting of the Pavel Filip cabinet took place at the Government offices.
In the meantime, Publika TV station presented footage with suspended President Igor Dodon admitting taking money from Russia to finance his party.
The ‘Official Gazette’ in Chisinau published on Monday the decree signed by interim President Pavel Filip to dissolve Parliament and to set the date of early elections on September 6. The Official Gazette did not publish the decrees signed by President Igor Dodon, investing the new cabinet head by Maia Sandu, ‘Ziarul de Garda’ informs.
The Constitutional Court of Moldova (CCM) has suspended President Igor Dodon on Sunday and approved the dissolution of Parliament.
The decision was made as he ignored the institution’s decisions and did not dissolve the Parliament, although the Parliament had not elected a government in the time stipulated by the law. Saturday evening, the legislature voted a new prime minister, Maia Sandu, a new Executive and a resolution declaring the Republic of Moldova a “captured state”. However, Constitutional Court of Moldova has invalidated this government.
Thousands of people attended on Sunday a large-scale rally in the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau, the capital of R. of Moldova, requesting the observing of the decisions of the Constitutional Court and calling for early parliamentary and presidential elections.