Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin issued a decree appointing Victor Stepaniuc as Deputy Prime Minister, Info-Prim Neo learned from the presidential press service. The position fell vacant in November 2006 after Valerian Cristea was appointed to serve as Moldova’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic. For a short period the post was held by Vitalie Vrabie, former Minister of Local Public Administration. A hard-core Communist party liner, Victor Stepaniuc was the head of the Communist parliamentary faction in 2001-2005, and now is the chair of the parliamentary commission for culture, science, education, sports and mass media.