It's Official Q President Voronin has

UNCLAS CHISINAU 000704 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION STATE FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR MD SUBJECT: It's Official Q President Voronin has Resigned; Ghimpu Declared Acting President ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On the morning of September 11, President Vladimir Voronin formally resigned. His Message to the People of Moldova was headlined in the morning newspapers and also broadcast on national television. Following Voronin's announcement, Parliament met on the afternoon of September 11. President Voronin submitted his letter of resignation to the Parliament, but did not appear in person at the session, even though he is Member of Parliament. After a heated debate about whether the Constitutional Court had to decide on the vacancy, the Alliance-controlled legislature adopted a decision declaring the post of President vacant, and a separate decision declaring the Speaker as Acting President, effective today. That decision will be sent to the Constitutional Court to be noted. During the session the Parliament stood for a moment of silence in remembrance of those who died in the United States on 9/11. Ghimpu will move quickly in the coming days to nominate his candidate for Prime Minister and ask him to form a government. PLDM Leader and presumed future Prime Minister Vlad Filat has announced publicly that the new government will be formed by September 20. END SUMMARY. Voronin Makes Formal Announcement of Resignation -------------- --- ¶3. (SBU) On the morning of September 11, Moldova's newspapers headlined President Voronin's message to the people. At 10:00 A.M. a tired and subdued Voronin read his message on national television. In a flat and emotionless voice he told the nation that he was "handing over the reins of government to the new power," noting that he was doing so "with a sad heart." ¶4. (SBU) Voronin related some of his achievements in his eight years as Head of State, particularly doubling the country's budget every four years, increasing pensions, salaries and stipends several times, and liquidating organized crime. He took credit for restoring "century-old historical ties with Russia that had been left to oblivion," and for restoring many national sites, including the beloved churches and monasteries at Capriana, Curchi and the War Memorials at Eternitate Park. ¶5. (SBU) Voronin's speech also went on the offensive criticizing the Alliance and suggesting that the new government would fail. Accusing them of only having interest in "distribution of posts," Voronin suggested that the Alliance was formed only on the basis of "complete denigration of their own country" and expressed doubts in their ability to put forward a new positive program for government. He literally accused the Alliance of having "dreams of destroying the country and liquidating it." ¶6. (SBU) Voronin concluded his speech by assuring the nation that although Voronin and his whole team was going into opposition, they would still be there for the nation, "in another quality, but here for you, and as before we will continue to protect your interests and rights." He expressed confidence that Communist rule "would return again to Moldovan soil." Parliament Declares Ghimpu Acting President -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In a highly controversial Parliamentary session, the Parliament adopted a decision declaring the role of President vacant. The debate centered largely about the role of the Constitutional Court in cases of Presidential vacancy. Communist MPs such as Turcan and Petrenco argued that under Article 135 of the Constitution, the Acting President is declared only after the opinion of the Constitutional Court is made. Wishing to move forward as quickly as possible, Alliance MPs such as Filat and Nagascevschi argued that the clause about a Constitutional Court pronouncement was only necessary in cases where there was some doubt, such as when the President was incapacitated, but in this case the President had resigned and hence the position was already vacant and had to be filled immediately to leave no power vacuum. The final decision adopted noted that the function of Acting President was filled by the Speaker, considered this decision to be in force as of the date of adoption, but contained a clause transmitting this decision to the Constitutional Court in order to inform them. During the session the Parliament stood for a moment of silence in remembrance of those who died in the United States on 9/11. Alliance Moving Quickly to Form New Government -------------- - 8 (SBU) The Alliance is moving forward quickly to consolidate power, and expects to continue accelerated momentum over the coming days. Following the Constitutional Court's decision September 8 recognizing the legality of Liberal Party leader Mihai Ghimpu's election as Speaker, the September 10 Parliamentary session moved forward with electing Deputy Speakers and appointing the Permanent Bureau of the Parliament. With Ghimpu already declared Acting President, his next step will be to nominate Filat as Prime Minister and ask him to form a government. Under Moldovan law, the Prime Minister is confirmed by Parliament together with his government. Filat told the press that the new government will be formed by September 20. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) President Voronin's formal resignation has been a dramatic step forward in the post- elections transfer of power process. This announcement made it clear that the days of PCRM government have now ended. Though Voronin's speech revealed a desire on the part of the Communists to return to power, they are finally reluctantly accepting the fact that the mantle is now passing to the other side. The Alliance has already overcome several key hurdles; the election of Ghimpu as Speaker has been pronounced legal by the Constitutional Court and as Speaker he has now been declared Acting President. Though the Communist MPs were disgruntled about the unfolding events, they clearly had to cede to the reality of the Alliance's Parliamentary majority. Naturally, the structural uncertainties about the Alliance's ability to elect its candidate (Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu) to the Presidency remain in place, but the internal PCRM debate may well change once Voronin has stepped down. CHAUDHRY