President Maia Sandu took note of Mariana Durleșteanu’s decision to withdraw her candidacy for premiership. As there is no candidate who would be supported by a formal majority now, she decided to field Igor Grosu, the president of the Party of Action and Solidary (PAS), for Prime Minister, IPN reports.

In a press briefing given after the discussions held with the parliamentary groups, President Sandu said she requested Igor Grosu to prepare the government program and to form a team with which to go to Parliament, but she is also waiting for parties’ reactions.

Maia Sandu noted that in the consultations she had with the parliamentary groups in the course of the day, she found out the positions of the parties, but learned about Mariana Durleșteanu’s withdrawal after the discussions.

The official voiced hope that the number of cases of COVID-19 will decrease the next few weeks so that snap parliamentary elections could be held in summer and corruption is rooted out alongside the COVID-19 pandemic.

On February 11, Natalia Gavrilița, the candidate for Prime Minister designated by President Maia Sandu, didn’t obtain any vote in Parliament, the first attempt to invest the Government failing this way. In the same sitting, the PSRM announced the formation of a parliamentary majority that proposed ex-minister of finance Mariana Durleșteanu for Premier. Also then, Maia Sandu nominated again Natalia Gavrilița for premiership, but her decree was later declared unconstitutional. If the second attempt to invest the Government fails, Parliament will be dissolved and snap parliamentary elections will be called.