EU welcomes constitution of new Parliament and election of Marian Lupu as Speaker

The Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova is pleased that, following the pre-term parliamentary elections of November 28, 2010, the new Parliament of Moldova has constituted itself and that Marian Lupu has been elected as its new Speaker, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a press statement, Ambassador Dirk Schübel, the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, says that these events are a further step in the democratic development that the Republic of Moldova has embarked on since the previous pre-term parliamentary elections of July 29, 2009. Dirk Schübel also says that the EU Delegation to Moldova hopes the Alliance for European Integration that was renewed on December 30, 2010 will continue the progress achieved so far on the path to economic integration and political association of Moldova with the EU. Marian Lupu was elected as Head of Parliament on December 30 by the vote of 57 MPs. The same day, Democrat lawmaker Vlad Plahotniuc was named First Deputy Speaker, while Liliana Palihovici, of the Liberal-Democrat parliamentary group, as Deputy Speaker of the new legislative body.