VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCH #0704/01 2541706
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADAF9A30 MSI8537-695)
O 111706Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8361
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS CHISINAU 000704 
 
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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