SOCIALISTS OFFICIALLY INVITE ACUM BLOC TO COALITION NEGOTIATIONS

The Party of Socialists (PSRM) has officially invited the Right-wing pro-European political bloc ACUM to negotiations on the forming of a governing coalition, PSRM Secretary for Ideology Ion Ceban announced at a news conference on Wednesday.

“We have sent an official invitation to ACUM to begin negotiations on forming a parliamentary majority, a governing coalition and on appointing a functional Government”, said Ion Ceban.

In his words, the invitation has been officially registered with the Parliament, where the Socialists are proposing to conduct the talks, and has been sent also to the ACUM component organizations – the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and the DA Platform. This step was undertaken in the context of preparation to the meeting of the PSRM All-Republican Council scheduled for April 12, at which the Party is to discuss its further actions.

“The PSRM is Moldova’s biggest party – with the largest electorate and the largest faction in the new Parliament. We realize perfectly well that we have duties before our voters and before our State – the Republic of Moldova. We shall justify their trust in us”, stated Ion Ceban.

He said the Socialists are proposing to hold the talks proceeding from the pre-conditions the Party of Socialists put forward on Tuesday. Ceban emphasized that a priority question in the pre-condition package is not only the distribution of posts.

“We have proposed PSRM Chairperson Zinaida Greceanii for the Parliament Speaker’s position. We believe this would be correct and fair, bearing in mind that we are the largest parliamentary faction. But we stand ready to discuss not only this, but also other questions with ACUM”, said Ion Ceban.

Asked about the Socialists’ readiness to start talks with the Democratic Party if ACUM refuses, the PSRM Secretary said, “It’s premature to discuss this yet. I guess that in such case the most probable scenario will be an early parliamentary election”.

In response to the invitation, the ACUM press service stated that the bloc does not regard it necessary to form a coalition with the Socialists, but is ready to cooperate with them “within the framework of a parliamentary platform”

“The ACUM bloc is remaining open to discussing the package of our legislative initiatives aimed at de-oligarchization of the country, including by means of abolishing the mixed election system. For this, there is no need for forming a coalition with the PSRM. Discussions with the Socialists can well be held within the framework of a transparent parliamentary platform, if only the Socialists prove they really want to overthrow the current ruling regime”, said the ACUM’s press release.

As was already reported by Infotag, if the deputies fail to create a parliamentary majority and to appoint a new Government in 3 months since the first plenary meeting of the new Parliament, the President is eligible to dissolve the Parliament and set a date for a snap election. This deadline will expire on June 21.