Moldova has a new government after two rival groups agreed to form a coalition and oust the Democratic Party of influential businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc.
The country held an election in February but it was inconclusive. It was thought that a snap election was the only way to break the deadlock until a surprise last-minute coalition deal was struck between the Socialist Party and the anti-corruption, pro-EU group ACUM, led by Maia Sandu and Andrei Năstase.
The Socialist Party and the right-center ACUM bloc, which together control 61 seats out of 101, convened the June 8 session, at which they signed an agreement on political cooperation.
However, the Constitutional Court has responded affirmatively to a request by the Democratic Party, which controls 30 mandates, to nullify the proceedings.
Representatives of the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party on June 7 failed to reach an agreement on cooperation. The rump parliament voted to approve Socialist Party leader Zenaida Greceanii as speaker and voted on other key parliamentary leadership posts. ACUM leader Maia Sandu was approved as prime minister.
The Constitutional Court almost immediately issued a statement invalidating the proceedings. “The court finds the decision of June 8, 2019, taken by the members of the 10th parliament to elect Zinaida Greceanii to the post of speaker of parliament to be unconstitutional,” the court’s statement said.
The court also declared all future decisions of the parliament invalid as well.
The Constitutional Court ruled that the new coalition was not valid, although it remains unclear what effect, if any, that will have on the new government.
The coalition said it was formed in order to rid Moldova of oligarchy, a direct reference to Plahotniuc’s leadership, which had been widely criticized by civil society groups and the EU for lack of transparency, corruption and poor administration.
“The dictator has fallen. The oligarchic regime is in opposition as of today,” Sandu said, referring to the Democratic Party and Plahotniuc, who did not have a formal position in the government but maintained influence through his leadership of the party. “Today we begin the process of cleaning up Moldova and building a better future.”
Among the first moves of the new government will be to investigate corruption and abuse of power, she said. “We will not compromise on the interests of citizens. Those who built the regime of terror will be judged fairly and without hesitation.”
