The court said in its reasoning that Sandu should have accepted a proposal from 54 MPs (primarily from the Socialist party; PSRM) to instead nominate Mariana Durleșteanu, a former Moldovan ambassador to the UK.
Sandu has twice nominated Gavriliță, who has little hope of forming a government that would gain the support of a majority of Moldova’s 101 MPs, in order to force an early election. Sandu can dissolve parliament if it twice fails to approve a new executive.
Possible suspension
According to the court’s ruling, Sandu is now obliged to organise a new round of formal consultations with Moldova’s parliamentary parties. If the PSRM and its allies again put forward Durleșteanu as prime minister (or anyone else who can command a majority in parliament), she will be forced to accept the proposal. Not doing so could see her suspended.
Moldova looks set for a snap election early next year following the resignation of the country’s prime minister.
Moldova’s prime minister, Ion Chicu (pictured above), has resigned just hours before the country’s parliament was due to vote on a no-confidence motion.
Mr Chicu made the announcement at a press conference organised by Igor Dodon, Moldova’s outgoing president, on December 23: the last day of his mandate.
In office just a year
The Harvard-educated Ms Sandu, erstwhile leader of the Action and Solidarity party (PAS), won 57 per cent of the vote in a run-off against Mr Dodon, officially independent but backed by the Socialist party (PSRM), on November 15.