The investing of the Filip Government, protests, direct presidential elections after a period of about 20 years and other events marked the year 2016. At yearend, IPN News Agency presents the most important events of each of the 12 months of the year.
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January key event: Filip Government was invested by the votes of 57 MPs. The decision was followed by protests that degenerated into violence.
(fotogalerie: Filip în Parlament, componenţa Guvernului, vot, restul imagini de la proteste)
On January 4, Ion Sturza, the candidate for Prime Minister nominated by President Timofti, came to Parliament to present his Program and the Cabinet. But the parliamentary alliance didn’t appear at the sitting and this didn’t take place because a quorum was not present. Civil society criticized the behavior of the MPs, saying these are obliged to go to plenary sitting as they represent the voters. The MPs were requested to rerun the sitting where the Sturza Government was to be voted in.
On January 11, a group of seven Liberal-Democratic MPs announced their intention to vote for the investing of a Government that would gain a majority of votes in Parliament. These were: Stefan Creanga, Ion Balan, Nae-Simion Plesca, George Mocanu, Vladimir Hotineanu, Mihaela Spatari, and Aliona Gota. Without the votes of these and of the 14 MPs who left the Communist group in December 2015, the investing of the Filip Government wouldn’t have been possible later.
On January 13, President Nicolae Timofti was suggested to nominate Democrat Vlad Plahotniuc for premiership. The proposal was submitted by the 56 MPs who signed the agreement to form a ruling alliance. The Head of State rejected the candidate, invoking suspicions that Plahotniuc lacks integrity. Shortly afterward, Timofti nominated his adviser Ion Paduraru for Prime Minister. But the next day Ion Paduraru withdrew his candidacy, sure that he would not be voted by the legislative body. The President fielded thus Democrat Pavel Filip, who was proposed by the parliamentary alliance.
On January 20, the Filip Government was voted in. Members and sympathizers of the Party of Socialists, the Political Party “Our Party” and the Civic Platform “Dignity and Truth” came together in a larger number to protest against the new Cabinet near the Parliament Building. A group of protesters forced their way into the Building, but were taken out by police officers. The same evening, the Filip Government was sworn in at a secret ceremony, after the President’s spokesman told the press that the ceremony would be held later. The next day, the spokesman tendered his resignation, explaining that he misinformed the mass media unintentionally.
On January 23, chairman of the Democratic Party Marian Lupu said the party would concede the post of Speaker of Parliament. He noted they didn’t yet know who this post would be be given to – the Liberal Party or the group of 14 ex-Communist MPs that created the Social-Democratic Platform. However, Democrat Andrian Candu continues to head Parliament.
Selection by Mariana Galben, IPN
