Filat was close to being punched by Plahotniuc, Marian Lupu

Prime Minister Vlad Filat was close to being punched by First Deputy Speaker Vlad Plahotniuc in the last meeting of the Council of the Alliance for European Integration, Speaker Marian Lupu told the press on January 22. According to Lupu, Vlad Filat reacted inappropriately to Vlad Plahotniuc’s proposal to offer more posts to the opposition. He even insulted Plahotniuc. “He received an appropriate answer. He was close to being punched,” Marian Lupu told a news conference. According to him, Filat has an obsession with Plahotniuc, related to the competition in business between the two. “The two Vlads came from business. They have known each other for years. Those who come from business have other views on how they should act,” said the Head of Parliament. Marian Lupu also said that Vlad Filat is behind the steps taken to discharge Vlad Plahotniuc from the post of First Deputy Speaker. The statements were made after the January 22 extraordinary sitting of the legislature could not take place because the quorum was not present. The leader of the Liberal-Democratic faction Valeriu Strelet said the sitting was called with deviations from the legislation and thus they will not take part in it. The Communist faction left the assembly hall because the discharge of First Deputy Speaker Vlad Plahotniuc wasn’t included in the agenda, as they requested.