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DE RUEHCH #0713/01 2601513
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O 171513Z SEP 09 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8378
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000713 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR MD
SUBJECT: Ghimpu Confirmed As Acting President, 
Nominates Filat for Prime Minister 
 
CHISINAU 00000713  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
///C O R R E C T E D COPY -- SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED/// 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  On September 17, the 
Constitutional Court confirmed the legality of 
Parliamentary Speaker Ghimpu's assumption of the 
position of Acting President.  Ghimpu promptly 
nominated Liberal Democratic Party leader Vlad 
Filat as his candidate for Prime Minister.  Filat 
will have up to 15 days to propose his program and 
cabinet to the Parliament, but is expected to do 
so sooner.  Ghimpu also announced that he was 
lifting the visa requirements for citizens of 
Romania. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Parliament adopted a law in its first 
reading making changes to the Government 
structure.  They proposed sixteen ministries, and 
a reduction in the number of state agencies from 
thirteen to eight.  Most controversial was 
elimination of the Ministry of Reintegration. 
Though the Transnistria issue will be handled by a 
National Office headed by a Deputy Prime Minister, 
ex-Minister Sova and others from Communist Party 
expressed concern that this was a sign the new 
government would not take reintegration seriously. 
Parliament also amended the law to remove a 2007 
prohibition on government officials having dual 
citizenship.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Court Rules Ghimpu Legally Acting President 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) In a September 17 sitting, the 
Constitutional Court confirmed the legality of 
Speaker Ghimpu assuming the position of Acting 
President on September 11.  Although the Court did 
not mention Ghimpu by name, it Court ruled that 
former President Voronin's letter of resignation 
had created a vacancy that triggered the need for 
an Acting President. 
 
Ghimpu Nominates Filat as Prime Minister Candidate 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶4. (SBU) After being assured that his role as 
Acting President was recognized as fully legal, as 
required by law Ghimpu consulted with the 
Parliamentary factions, and then announced that he 
had designated PLDM leader Vlad Filat as his 
candidate for Prime Minister.  Under Article 98 of 
the Constitution, Filat will have a period of up 
to 15 days to present his program and cabinet to 
the Parliament for approval.   As the Alliance is 
eager to put its government into place as quickly 
as possible, it is expected that Filat will return 
to the Parliament to propose his cabinet in the 
coming days.  Ghimpu announced that Moldova would 
have a functional government in place before the 
end of September. 
 
Ghimpu Suspends Visa Regime for Romanians 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Ghimpu also signed a decree suspending 
the previous government's April 8 decision 
(adopted in the wake of the April 7 violence) 
introducing a visa regime for citizens of Romania. 
He announced that starting from September 18, 
citizens of Romania will be able to travel to 
Moldova without visas. 
 
Parliament adopts Law on Restructuring Government 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Parliament also adopted in the first 
reading a law on the structure of the government. 
Although the Alliance kept the number of 
ministries at 16 (as in the previous government, 
the law introduced two new ministries and removed 
two old ministries.  The new ministries will be 
Ministry of Transportation and Road Infrastructure 
and Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism.  The two 
ministries dissolved were the Ministry of 
Reintegration, and the Ministry of Local Public 
Administration.  The number of State Agencies was 
reduced from thirteen to eight.  An Agency of 
Public Property was created.  In recognition of 
the importance of customs to the state budget, the 
Parliament bill would also make the Customs 
Service subordinate to the Ministry of Finance. 
Finally, the Moldova-Vin Agency will be under the 
Ministry of Economy.  This restructuring will 
 
CHISINAU 00000713  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
///C O R R E C T E D COPY -- SENISITVE CAPTION ADDED/// 
 
still have to be considered in the second reading 
before it enters into force. 
 
Decision on Reintegration Ministry Triggers 
Backlash 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The elimination of the Ministry of 
Reintegration triggered harsh criticism from the 
PCRM.  Ex-Minister Vasile Sova (who appeared 
visibly upset) and other PCRM deputies claimed 
removing that eliminating the Ministry would 
damage the country's ability to deal with this 
important issue and would send wrong signals to 
the public, both nationally and internationally. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Alliance deputies argued that although 
they were eliminating the Ministry of 
Reintegration as a Ministry, they proposed to 
create a National Office within the Government to 
be headed by a Deputy Prime Minister.  According 
to AIE, a Deputy Prime Minister would have greater 
authority to coordinate GoM efforts, including 
assigning tasks to other ministers, and hence the 
coverage of reintegration was being promoted to a 
higher level. 
 
Public Officials Allowed to Hold Dual Citizenship 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶9. (SBU) The 53 Alliance MPs also voted to remove 
from the Law on Government the provision 
preventing the public officials from having dual 
citizenship, a restriction introduced in 2007 by 
the PCRM and PPCD. The Communists also were 
strongly critical of this move, but Alliance 
deputies argued that given Moldova's ethnic 
structure and historic background, such 
restrictions were incorrect.  Reportedly, 20 
Alliance MPs hold Romanian passports. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) As expected, the Constitutional Court 
ruled in favor of Ghimpu as acting President. 
The position was indeed vacant, and the law does 
say that the Speaker should become Acting 
President.  With the favorable decision in hand, 
Ghimpu did not lose any time before nominating 
Filat as candidate for Prime Minister.  The 
Alliance will now move forward as quickly as 
possible to put a new government in place. 
Ghimpu's decision to repeal the visa regime also 
should pave the way for better relations with 
Romania and with the EU. 
 
CHAUDHRY