Diacov offers presidency of PDM to Lupu

Former Speaker Marian Lupu, who had been a member of the Communist Party until yesterday, could become the new president of the Democrat Party of Moldova (PDM). The offer was made by the party’s leader Dumitru Diacov. “This would be a chance for our party,” Diacov told a news conference on June 11, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I hope that Marian Lupu will take a decision by Monday or Tuesday. This is our condition as we must engage in the election campaign in due time,” Diacov said. “It doesn’t matter what post I will hold. I am the founder of the PDM. I would like to pick up strawberries with my grandchildren and see how our party prospers,” Diacov said, when asked what his position in the party will be if Lupu accepts to become the leader of the PDM. “I know that Lupu talked with a number of parties, including the three Opposition parliamentary parties. I think he needs a serious party and there are enough arguments for him to join the PDM,” Dumitru Diacov said. If Marian Lupu does not accept the offer, the PDM members will run in elections under the list of the party that will be headed by Marian Lupu. “We focus not on electoral competition, but on the post-electoral situation. We do not want that the situation from after April 5 repeats,” the PDM leader said. The PDM did not pass the election threshold in the April 5 legislative elections. It polled only 2.97% of the vote.