"My Strategy Is to Hold Early Elections." Sandu Will Not Nominate a Candidate for Prime Minister

President Maia Sandu will not consult with parliamentary factions and will not nominate a candidate for prime minister who is supported by a "corrupt parliamentary majority." Sandu said this on February 25 on ProTV's În Profunzime, noting that she expects March 23, when it will be three months since the government resigned. This could serve as a pretext to dissolve the parliament, if a new government is not appointed. Sandu noted that she would not hold consultations with the factions, as they too often change their positions, including on early elections. In addition, according to Sandu, she will not nominate a candidate proposed by the "situational" parliamentary majority, which includes the Party of Socialists (PSRM), the Shor party, the Pentru Moldova platform and independent MPs. "My strategy is to hold early elections. I will not agree to nominate a government supported by corrupt officials," Sandu said, stating her intention to hold a referendum if MPs do not agree to announce early elections. "And then let the people decide. This is the essence of democracy. The decision of the people will be binding on me and on the parliament," Sandu said. However, the president hopes that on March 23, when three months after the government’s resignation expire, it will be possible to dissolve the parliament, unless a new government is appointed. Recall, on February 23, the Constitutional Court (CC) partially satisfied the request submitted by the PSRM deputies and recognized Sandu's decree on the re-nomination of the candidate for premiership Natalia Gavrilita unconstitutional. At the same time, the Constitutional Court rejected the demand of the socialist deputies to assess whether Sandu gravely violated the law by refusing to nominate a candidate from the parliamentary majority for the post of prime minister. The Constitutional Court believes that institutional crisis can be avoided via consultations between the president and parliamentary factions on the formation of a government.