COMMUNISTS DEMAND THAT DEMOCRATS LEAVE GAGAUZIA IN PEACE

The lawmakers of the Communist Party, as well as Liberal Democrat Petru Vlah demanded that the Democratic Party “keep its hands off the Gagauz Autonomy”. They made this statement at the Parliament’s plenary meeting today, in retort to the intention of the lawmakers of Gagauzia Popular Assembly [local legislature] to consider express a no-confidence vote to Gagauz Bashkan Mikhail Formuzal.    

Petru Vlah said that the Democratic Party is working to ouster Bashkan Mikhail Formuzal from his office.  

“We are talking about the bashkan that has been elected by the people of Gagauzia. The actions of the Democratic Party belie the common sense,” he said.    

In response to these statements, Parliament Speaker Igor Corman turned off the microphone of the Liberal Democratic MP, saying that political issues shall not be discussed during the examination of the problems included in the agenda of the day of the legislative forum.   

The lawmakers of the Communist Party backed the Liberal Democrat in this respect. They also accused the Democrats of trying to grab the power in the autonomy.  

“The Communist Party insists that lawmaker Petru Vlah be allowed to speak out his stance on the matter. The Democratic Party has seized the power in the Gagauz Popular Assembly and now, it is trying to do the same thing in the executive committee of the autonomy. This is an unacceptable action that must be urgently examined in the Parliament,” said Communist MP, Grigore Petrenco.   

His party comrade Sergey Stati said that the current difficult situation may lead to a civil war in the Gagauz Autonomy, which may subsequently involve the neighboring regions, too.  

Communist MP Constantin Staris suggested that Head of Information and Security Service (ISS), Mihai Balan be questioned in the Parliament, about the situation in the autonomy, as previously, Liberal Democrat lawmaker Ion Butmalai said that according to some sources in the ISS, there are no reasons for concern in the region and that the Communists are responsible for the situation in the Gagauz Popular Assembly.   

“Mihai Balan should come to the Parliament and inform all the lawmakers, not only Liberal Democrat Ion Butmalai, about the things that are going on in Gagauzia,” said Constantin Staris.    

The Head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPM) parliamentary faction, Valeriu Strelet asked for a break, in order to discuss this situation within the LDPM faction. He also demanded some additional time for expressing the lawmakers’ stance on the vote of no confidence to the Gagauz Bashkan.