Voronin Announces Intention to Resign as

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000675 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR MD SUBJECT: Voronin Announces Intention to Resign as "Rump" Parliament Meets September 2 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: As the "rump" Parliament of 53 Alliance for European Integration (AIE) MPs was meeting at the National Palace, President Voronin told a PCRM Party Plenum that he would renounce his position as Acting President and continue as Member of Parliament and head of PCRM faction. His resignation will presumably be effective September 14, the deadline for MPs to choose between holding another Government position or their Parliamentary seat. The PCRM Congress also confirmed their intention to continue efforts to form a "Left-Centrist" coalition, and go into opposition if this failed. ¶2. (SBU) Meanwhile, the Alliance-led Parliament called on Prime Minister Greceanii to report on the economy, but when she failed to appear (she was at the PCRM meeting),deputies debated and adopted a resolution on economic issues. Deputies held off on adopting any legislation, pending a decision by the Constitutional Court Q expected early next week Q on the legality of Speaker Ghimpu's August 28 election. END SUMMARY. Ghimpu Chairs Session of "Rump" Parliament -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The 53 Alliance deputies gathered September 2 for a session of Parliament that was boycotted by the 48 Communist deputies, who instead attended an extended PCRM plenum meeting. A cloud of uncertainty hung over the Parliamentary session pending a Constitutional Court ruling on the legality of AIE member Ghimpu's August 28 election as Speaker. The Party of Communists presented their case to the Constitutional Court on September 1, asking for an expedited decision which is expected on or around September 8. ¶4. (SBU) The deputies had determined before the session not to attempt to adopt any legislation until the legality of the Speaker's election was resolved. Instead, the Parliament voted to invite Prime Minister Greceanii to report to the Parliament on the economic situation and Chairman of Teleradio Moldova Valentin Todercan to report on his media's failure to televise the session as had been voted upon August 28. After adopting a very moderate Appeal to National Minorities (in Russian),they adjourned for a two hour break, to give the invitees time to prepare and appear. ¶5. (SBU) When Prime Minister Greceanii and Teleradio Chief Todercan failed to appear, after denouncing their "contempt" for the Parliament, the deputies debated the state of the economy and the need for media reform. Speakers noted the economic crisis, including the expected 12 percent deficit and the serious 50 percent decline in Foreign Direct Investment, and criticized the previous government's "unprecedented" borrowing of more than one billion lei (approximately 100 million USD). The Parliament also adopted a declaration on unblocking the economy. The Parliament adjourned without setting a date for its next session, presumably to wait until after the Constitutional Court decision on the session's legality. Voronin to Resign as of September 14 -------------- ¶6. (SBU) While the "Rump" Parliament was meeting, members of the Party of Communists gathered on September 2 at a special national-level sitting that included regional leaders from around the country, in order to discuss PCRM options and strategy. According to media reports, at this meeting, Acting President Voronin stated his intention to retain his position as an MP and vacate the Presidency. (Note: as required by law, he would have to resign as of September 14, the legal deadline for choosing between holding another government position and being an MP.) ¶7. (SBU) A formal PCRM statement also reaffirmed the PCRM's intention to form an anti-crisis "Left- Centrist" coalition as the best way to avoid early elections in 2010. However, their statement noted that in the event that it would not be possible to CHISINAU 00000675 002 OF 002 form such a "patriotic" Parliamentary majority, the PCRM would then move into the opposition. While there also were reports that the PCRM had determined not concede the votes necessary to elect a President, which would trigger Parliamentary elections again in 2010, PCRM MP Vladimir Turcan told the press that no such decision had been taken. Turcan said that he viewed the probability of early elections as remaining at 50-50. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Acting President Voronin's announcement that he intends to resign lays to rest fears of a looming political and constitutional crisis which would have been triggered by his attempt to cling to power (which would have forced the Alliance to declare the position of President vacant). Voronin appears to have understood that his days as President were numbered, and that it would be better to exit gracefully. The structural uncertainties about the Alliance's ability to elect its candidate (currently Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu) to the Presidency remain in place, as they still need the eight additional votes from the PCRM, but the brewing Alliance-PCRM battle over Voronin's status now would appear to have been resolved. After September 14, the Speaker will become Acting President. ¶9. (SBU) Nevertheless, Moldova is still temporarily in a situation of dual power. While the Alliance hopes to decisively take the reins of power into its hands, it has been stymied by the necessity of awaiting the Constitutional Court's decision on the PCRM challenge to the legality of Ghimpu's election. Should the Court, which is widely perceived as being biased toward the PCRM, rule in favor of the Communists, the Alliance has the majority necessary to reelect Ghimpu in a repeat vote. The next challenge will be to get the two factions of Parliament back together in a united session that is universally recognized as legitimate. ¶10. (SBU) The Alliance is strategizing that once they begin passing reform legislation and making the personnel changes that are within the Parliament's competency (such as removing the Chairman of the Constitutional Court),they will win support from some Communist deputies. The PCRM, on the other hand, is still hoping to delegitimize Ghimpu and his election. A picture on the front page of a pro-Communist newspaper September 2 showed Ghimpu's image superimposed over a picture of Romanian Fascist leader Antonescu wearing the Iron Cross, terming his election a "simple joke." We have heard that even some of the more progressive PCRM deputies are indignant about Ghimpu's election and ready to roll the dice again in new elections. Though the situation is still murky, it clear that both sides are respecting the rule of law, playing by the rules of the Constitution and Parliamentary procedures, and waiting for legal validation from the Constitutional Court in order to proceed. MICHELI