President Nicolae Timofti in the evening of July 27 signed a decree by which Valeriu Strelet is nominated as a candidate for Prime Minister. The head of state took such a decision after holding consultations with the parliamentary groups of the PLDM, PDM and PL, which recently formed a governing alliance in Parliament. Valeriu Strelet was fielded by the faction of the PLDM and is supported by the other two components of the Alliance for European Integration, IPN reports, quoting the presidential press service.

The announcement was confirmed by the leader of the PLDM Vlad Filat immediately after the consultations with President Nicolae Timofti.

“Valeriu Strelet is the candidate fielded by the PLDM, who is supported by the leaders of the other two parties. I’m convinced that he will suggest a government program by Thursday and he will manage to discuss it with the leaders of the other parties of the alliance. Valeriu Strelet will enjoy all the necessary support for being a good Premier,” he stated.

The leader of the PLDM said he regrets that the alliance partners didn’t accept the candidacy of Maia Sandu. “I regret that Maia Sandu didn’t manage to achieve consensus and to at least meet with the alliance partners to explain her position to them. It would have been much more correct to meet and discuss. Maia Sandu’s mission does not end here. I thank her and wish her to remain as principled as until now,” stated Filat.

He also said that the PLDM suggested its third candidate for premiership, taking into account the difficult situation faced by the country. “We considered we must be more intelligent and must field another candidate that is supported by all the alliance parties. We will take steps to present the government program as soon as possible. What is important now is for the country to have a Government,” sated the Liberal-Democratic leader.

Though he took part in the consultations with President Timofti, the leader of the PL Mihai Ghimpu refused to make statements about the candidate for Premier, but noted that Maia Sandu refused to take up duties as Premier. “We will see who will be Prime Minister. Maia Sandu refused the post. I’m glad that we ultimately reached a compromise. It is now important to invest the Government until the end of this month and to resume cooperation with the foreign partners,” he stated.

The leader of the PDM also avoided making statements about the new candidate for premiership. “We came at the invitation of the head of state and discussed the nomination of a candidate for Prime Minister,” said Marian Lupu.

Under the Constitution, the nominated Prime Minister has 15 days to ask for a vote of confidence from Parliament for the government program and the composition of the Cabinet.