The deputy prime minister on social matters, the ministers, deputy ministers and agency heads designated by the Liberal Party (PL) vacated their seats. The party’s press officer Ion Puscas has told IPN that as a result of a decision taken by the PL’s National Council on May 26, the party decided to leave the government coalition and to join the opposition.

The letters of resignation of the deputy prime minister and ministers were submitted to Prime Minister Pavel Filip. The deputy ministers addressed their resignations to the ministers, while the agency heads to their chiefs.

Gheorghe Brega vacated the seat of deputy prime minister on social matters, Corina Fusu of minister of education, while Valeriu Munteanu of minister of environment. The deputy ministers of education, environment, and transport and road infrastructure, director of the State Agency on Intellectual Property, director of “Molsilva” Agency, director of Moldova’s Water Agency and others also vacated their posts.

The Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu on May 26 announced that the PL decided to leave the government coalition and the parliamentary alliance. He made the announcement after the meeting of the PL’s National Council that was convoked following the arrest of the deputy chairman of the PL Dorin Chirtoaca, Mayor General of Chisinau municipality, on May 25. Dorin Chirtoaca, who is investigated in the case of pay parking lots, was placed under arrest for 30 days on May 26.