Anatol Salaru will continue to serve as minister of defense. The simple motion against him examined in the March 11 sitting of the legislative body didn’t garner the number of votes needed to be adopted. The minister’s dismissal was asked by the Communist and Socialist MPs and only 25 lawmakers voted in favor, IPN reports.

Anatol Salaru said in Parliament that this simple motion is aimed not against him, but rather against Moldova’s external partners such as the European Union and NATO.

“The statements about the strengthening of Moldova’s relations with NATO are in accordance with the objectives of the current government. As a minister of defense, I pledge to show the population that Moldova’s security can be ensured only by obtaining the status of fully-fledged member of the EU and by ensuring good relations with the strategic partners, such as NATO,” stated the minister.

In her speech, the head of the Communist parliamentary group Inna Supac said the military considers Anatol Salaru a dangerous person who sells everything possible from the national army and who, by his actions, destroys the army and the consequences of his stay in this post can be very serious.

Anatol Salaru was named minister of defense last summer. He is the deputy chairman of the Liberal Party.