Mihai Ghimpu elected Speaker without Communists

The president of the Liberal Party Mihai Ghimpu was elected as Head of Parliament on Friday by the vote of the members of the majority coalition “Alliance for European Integration”. The Communist MPs did not take part in the voting as they left the assembly hall after about half of hour of the start of the sitting, Info-Prim Neo reports. Immediately after leaving the hall, the Communist MPs Zinaida Greceanyi and Igor Dodon told the reporters that under the law they can form their parliamentary group within 10 days of the first sitting so that they do not harry. At the same time, Mark Tkachuc said that the PCRM postponed creating its parliamentary group as they consider that it could grow larger. According to him, the Democratic parties’ haste shows that they are afraid because none of the four leaders of the Alliance have stable positions. In a news conference held by the AEI leaders after the first sitting of the eighteenth Parliament, Mihai Ghimpu said that the post of head of state will be held by the Democratic Party, of prime minister – by the Liberal-Democratic Party, while the posts for the AMN will be announced tomorrow. "We all four are kamikazes, but the transit situation in Moldova cannot last forever,” the new Speaker said. The four leaders assured that the head of state will be ultimately elected. Under the Constitution, if the Parliament does not elect the head of state within two months, the outgoing president dissolves the legislature and sets the date of early legislative elections. As the They hold together 53 seats of MP, but needs 61 votes to elect the head of state. As early parliamentary elections can be held only once a year, the next elections could take place not earlier than February 2010. The Alliance for European Integration holds 53 seats of MPs, but needs 61 votes to elect the head of state. The AEI set the next sitting of the Parliament for September 2. When leaving the hall, the oldest MP Ivan Calin, of the PCRM, announced that the next meeting will take place on September 4.