End of a shaky experiment: After only five months in office, the government of the former Soviet republic of Moldova has been broken. Parliament deprived the Cabinet under the pro-Western Prime Minister Maia Sandu with 63 of the 101 votes.
The motion of no-confidence by the co-governing socialists was supported by the Democratic Party of the controversial oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc. The aim of the previous government alliance was actually the disempowerment of just this oligarch, who has been accused for years, the political control of the ex-Soviet republic located between Romania and Ukraine in secret.
President Igor Dodon called after the vote of no confidence all parties to quickly find a solution and form a new government: "Everything must be done so that the political crisis does not lead to a social and economic."
Controversy over important office led to vote of no confidence
The parliament had been newly elected in February. The formation of a government lasted for months and only succeeded at the last minute. After a days-long power struggle in which there were in fact two governments, the coalition was made up of pro-European and pro-Moscow forces.
Moldova, with its 3.5 million inhabitants between Ukraine and Romania, is in the political tension between Russia and the EU.
The trigger for the current crisis of the Alliance of Socialists supported by President Dodon and the pro-European party bloc ACUM was a call for tenders for the post of Attorney-General.
Originally, there should be an open selection process. Prime Minister Sandus party bloc but wanted to enforce their candidate and amended for a corresponding law. Then the Socialists launched a vote of no confidence.
EU and Romania are concerned
It is unclear whether it will come again to new elections. The Socialists had previously done well in the local elections and demanded more power in the government.
In view of the vote of no confidence, the EU spoke of alarming signals for the reform process in the country. The neighboring country Romania reacted "with deep concern". "The ACUM bloc and Maia Sandu-led government provided a guarantee of respect for democracy - individual rights and freedoms of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova," said Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban.
