PREMIER FILIP ASSURES HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT DODON HAS BEEN ONLY WITHIN "INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION"

Prime Minister Pavel Filip stated in the Moldovan Parliament on Friday that his and his Government's relations with President Igor Dodon have been strictly within the framework of "institutional collaboration".

Answering deputies' questions in the forum following his work report presentation, Filip admitted that there are some difficulties in interaction with the President, "who does not support the country's course for European integration".

"Many opposition politicians feed on these controversies between the governing coalition and the President, and speculate on this. We seek to be correct in our relations with the head of state, to observe the law and to ensure cooperation on the institutional level", said the Prime Minister.

Filip admitted that largely due to these discords, he did not present to the President the candidacies for 4 vacant posts in the Government (two ministers were dismissed and the other two are in custody on corruption charges).

"This indeed creates certain obstacles to normal work. But we have decided not to propose to the President any new candidates for the vacant posts because we have embarked on a reform of public administration, including reform of government. The would-be new Cabinet is going to have only 9 ministers instead of 16 currently", said the Premier.

Pavel Filip stressed that such "institutional collaboration" shall be ensured in the future as well, "though one should not forget that Moldova is a parliamentary republic".