Moldova's Parliament Sacks Speaker as Crisis Deepens

April 29, 2013

CHISINAU — Moldova's parliament voted on Thursday to sack its speaker, Marian Lupu, deepening a political crisis that has already led to the resignation of the government.

The parliament cannot pass laws without a full-time speaker and must be dissolved if it does not pass any legislation for three months. It also cannot name a new prime minister without a speaker.

Deputies from the party of former prime minister Vlad Filat sided with opposition communists in voting against Lupu, Filat's former ally in the now-defunct pro-European coalition.

Seventy-six deputies supported a motion to dismiss Lupu, with 67 votes required to pass it.

Earlier this week Moldova's Constitutional Court thwarted Filat's plans to be reinstated as head of government after losing a no-confidence vote in May.

(Reuters)

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