'Moldova is free' cheers new premier as rival steps aside
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS JUNE 14, 2019 / 11:21 AM / UPDATED 11 HOURS AGO
'Moldova is free' cheers new premier as rival steps aside
Matthias Williams
5 MIN READ
CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldovas new prime minister Maia Sandu consolidated her power on Friday as her predecessor resigned, appearing to ease a crisis that shook the country for the past week as two rival governments jostled for control.
Sandu took office last weekend as the head of a new coalition government designed to fight corruption and remove a party led by tycoon Vladimir Plahotniuc from power.
But Plahotniucs Democratic Party called her a usurper and insisted Prime Minister Pavel Filip was still in charge. Filip stepped down on Friday but demanded a snap election and refused to recognize Sandus government as legal.
The crisis threatened more instability for one of Europes smallest and poorest countries, where the West and Russia vie for influence.
Moldova has been dogged by scandals and the emigration of citizens to Russia or wealthier European countries to find work. Sandu is the countrys eighth prime minister since 2013.
-snip-
Read more:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-moldova-politics/moldova-is-free-cheers-new-premier-as-rival-steps-aside-idUSKCN1TF20B