Now that a platform is in place for parties to negotiate a parliamentary majority, President Igor Dodon says it is time for him to bow out of the process. If a majority is eventually formed, the president will be back to consult parliamentary groups before nominating a prime minister, and if this doesn’t happen within three months, he will dissolve Parliament. Igor Dodon stated this following what was intended as a tripartite round of talks between the Socialist Party, the Democratic Party, and the bloc NOW, but which the latter boycotted.

 

Igor Dodon said he noted that the Socialists and Democrats had “very many differences on political issues, but also many shared views on certain social matters” and estimated the odds were “fifty-fifty” that the two parties would strike a deal, with the other alternative being snap elections.

 

Socialist Party leader Zinaida Greceanîi agreed: “either a stable government is formed, or we go and ask people to judge us once more”. She said she regretted that NOW leaders didn’t show up, adding that today’s discussion was only an occasion to express one’s positions, not to enter any coalition. Zinaida Greceanîi also said that the Socialist leadership would convene shortly to decide the next steps. 

 

Democratic Party leader Vlad Plahotniuc said both points of convergence and points of difference were discussed with the Socialists. “I believe people expect from the government that everybody delivers on the promises made during the campaign and, in particular, to continue the beneficial projects that we have started”, Plahotniuc said he and his colleagues would now take a short break to process what they heard and see how discussions could continue with the Socialists, if any constructive dialog was possible at all. “The PDM’s goal is to create a stable, responsible and effective government as soon as possible and all options will be analyzed”, stated Vlad Plahotniuc.

 

Meanwhile, the political bloc NOW intended to hold their own talks in parallel with any MP interested to endorse its “de-oligarchization” legislation. Only three Shor Party members showed up, only to be told that they “belong in jail”.