Republik Moldau

The former ruling party has abandoned its attempt to cling onto power in Moldova and has gone into opposition – while still refusing the recognise the new government led by pro-EU and pro-Russian forces.

The ongoing political crisis and power struggle in Moldova sparked urgent calls for help Wednesday from the European Union to end the tensions. The president of neighboring Romania, Klaus Iohannis, warned in a letter to the European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that Moldova is "confronted with a very serious constitutional and political crisis'' which could destabilize the country and the region.

Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon has been stripped of his duties, escalating a political crisis stemming from inconclusive general elections. The move came after his party agreed a coalition cabinet with a pro-European Union block, welcomed by the EU. Outgoing PM Pavel Filip's rival party challenged that agreement, and the Constitutional Court backed Mr Filip, appointing him as interim president.

Transnistria’s leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky, said the Moldovan breakaway region will sue the Chisinau authorities for alleged crimes committed in the Dniester War in 1992, but did not say which court he intends to address.

President Igor Dodon warned he could dissolve parliament and call for new elections because MPs have not been able to reach a consensus on forming a governing majority since polls in February.

Moldova’s Constitutional Court has confirmed the outcome of the country’s February 24 parliamentary elections, rejecting an appeal by some opposition parties to invalidate the results in several constituencies.

Moldova’s 24 February parliamentary elections were competitive and fundamental rights were generally respected, but the campaign took place against the backdrop of disaffection with public institutions and was tainted by allegations of pressure on public employees, strong indications of vote buying and the misuse of state resources, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today.

An election in Moldova this month looks likely to produce a hung parliament, entrenching a split between pro-Western and pro-Russian forces at a time when concerns over corruption and democracy have soured its relations with the European Union.