February 12 (SeeNews) - Moldova's pro-European president Maia Sandu said she decided to again name former finance minister Natalia Gavrilita prime-minister designate - a move that brings closer the prospect of early general election after parliament rejected Gavrilita's cabinet.
Following consultations with political parties, Maia Sandu said that she nominated Gavrilita to the post of prime minister for a second time after being left unconvinced by a newly formed parliamentary majority led by pro-Moscow Moldova's Socialist Party (PSRM).
"I have received a letter containing an agreement for the creation of a 54-member parliamentary majority. On this list, there are deputies who have been kidnapped and held hostage, who I suspect could not express their will freely. There are valid reasons to believe that they have been subjected to pressure," Maia Sandu said during a televised news conference on Thursday evening.
"Besides, some of these deputies were involved in the theft of $1 billion (820 million euro) from our banking system, and there are also some who have switched parties several times as a result of corrupt activities. I cannot accept this proposal, and I propose Natalia Gavrilita for the post of prime minister," Sandu added.
Earlier on Thursday, none of the 101 members of Moldova's parliament voted in favour of Gavrilita who was nominated prime minister designate by Sandu at the end of January, according to data posted on the parliament's website.
According to the constitution, Sandu could nominate another candidate for the position of prime minister. If parliament rejects her choice twice in the span of 45 days, she can dissolve the assembly and set a date for a snap election.
Also on Thursday, PSRM, Sor Party and PRO Moldova parliamentary group announced that they have established an official coalition and proposed former finance minister Mariana Durlesteanu for prime minister.
Sandu, who is former leader of pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), said last month that PAS would not back Gavrilita's cabinet, aiming to trigger early elections in a bid to tip the scales in Sandu's favour in the parliament in which PSRM is the largest party.
In January, Moldova's constitutional court said that parliament cannot dissolve itself and ruled that Sandu must nominate a prime minister-designate following the resignation of Ion Chicu at the end of 2020. If the president refuses to nominate a prime minister-designate, the parliament can suspend the head of state from office.
On December 31, Sandu named foreign affairs and European integration minister Aurel Ciocoi interim prime minister following Chicu's resignation. Chicu resigned on December 23 in a move aimed to prompt early parliamentary elections.
PSRM, led by former president Igor Dodon who lost to Sandu in the November presidential elections, has 36 MPs. Sor Party, led by businessman Ilan Sor, controls nine seats in parliament, PAS holds 15 seats, while pro-EU Dignity and Truth Party (PDPDA) controls 11 seats. Democrat Party of Moldova holds 11 seats, Pro-Moldova has 7 seats, while the remaining 12 mandates are held by independent MPs.
(1 euro=21.2564 lei)