The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) has elected its leader in the seventh congress of the party on June 18. Viorel Cibotaru was elected as the party’s new chairman after ex-leader Vlad Filat, who is prosecuted for passive corruption and influence peddling, announced that he renounced this post, IPN reports.

Viorel Cibotaru told the press that his priorities as chairman of the party include the reformation of the PLDM and strengthening of the party’s capacities. Now that a new head of the PLDM was chosen, the long period of crisis came to an end. “We must admit that it was a crisis. The absence of an active leader who would have taken positions and coordinated the work prevented the Liberal Democratic Party from reacting on time to all the attacks,” he stated.

MP Vadim Pistrinciuc noted that Viorel Cibotaru polled the largest number of votes in the congress. “We need a name to build the party as we want. We count a lot on his analytical, organizational and diplomatic skills for reforming the party. We will work in this regard so as to be efficient and visible,” he said.

The MP also said that changes will be made in the party’s standing bureau and as regards the posts of deputy chairmen.

The former leader of the PLDM Vlad Filat handed over his duties by an address to the participants in the congress. At the end of May, he called on his party colleagues to organize the congress where to adjust the program and statutes of the party and to choose a new leader. Vlad Filat remains yet a member of the PLDM.