Moldovan president says govt coalition may collapse amid prosecutor general row

"The government of Maia Sandu has got itself into a political zugzwang on its own. No one challenged them.The probability of the government falling, in my opinion, is 90%," Dodon wrote in a social media post on Thursday.

Dodon was PSRM chairman before becoming president in December 2016.

The government has approved a draft legislative amendment that allows Sandu to propose to the Superior Council of Prosecutors a short list of candidates for the post of prosecutor general post, a document posted on the government's website shows.

Sandu and Dodon both held talks on the matter with US ambassador to Moldova Dereck Hogan, and with the head of the EU Delegation, Peter Michalko, according to information released by the president's office and the government.

Sandu on Thursday reiterated her position, saying she will not back down and that if PSRM wishes to challenge the draft legislation at the Constitutional Court, they have the right to do so.

"People are asking from the government, from me as prime minister, to ensure a better life and a long-awaited justice. That is why I decided to take on responsibility for identifying independent candidates for the position of prosecutor general whom people can trust that the official will work in the national interest," Sandu said in a post on social media.

Moldova's parliament is scheduled to discuss the new legislation on Friday.

PSRM won 35 of 101 seats in parliament in the general elections in February. PDM followed with 30 mandates, while the ACUM bloc came third with 26 seats. The fourth political force which passed the 6% threshold to enter parliament was Sor Party led by businessman Ilan Sor, with seven seats. The three remaining mandates went to independent MPs.

The ruling coalition has been in power since June, when PSRM agreed to govern together with ACUM, ending months of political uncertainty after the inconclusive elections led to a hung parliament.