Moldova's three pro-European parties have resumed consultations to form a new government following last year's parliamentary election.
The Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), the Democratic Party (PD), and the Liberal Party (PL) obtained a combined total of just over 45 percent in the November 30 poll.
That would be enough to take some 54 seats in the 101-seat parliament if the parties can agree, but they have clashed in the past and more tough bargaining is expected.
After two hours of negotiations on January 6, the leaders of the three parties -- PD's Marian Lupu, PLDM's Vlad Filat and PL's Mihai Ghimpu -- told the media they hoped to come to an agreeement on forming a government before next week's parliament session.
Two pro-Russian parties, the Socialist Party and the slightly more moderate Communists, won a combined total of 38.8 percent -- short of the majority needed to form a goverment.
