CHISINAU -- The Moldovan parliament has elected Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu as its speaker and made him acting president, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.
Lupu was elected with 57 votes; Communist deputies abstained from the vote.
The Democratic Party agreed earlier in the day to join a pro-Western alliance including the Liberal Democrats and the Liberals, but the decision did not create the majority necessary to elect a president.
The parliamentary speaker would become acting president under the constitution if such a vote failed, but the coalition parties reportedly agreed to make Lupu acting head of state without voting on a president.
The coalition bloc is two votes shy of the 61 votes it needs to pick a president.
Moldova has been in political deadlock since November 28 parliamentary elections failed to form a ruling coalition.
A parliament that fails to elect a president must be dissolved, a development that would lead to fresh elections.
compiled from RFE/RL and agency reports
Lupu was elected with 57 votes; Communist deputies abstained from the vote.
The Democratic Party agreed earlier in the day to join a pro-Western alliance including the Liberal Democrats and the Liberals, but the decision did not create the majority necessary to elect a president.
The parliamentary speaker would become acting president under the constitution if such a vote failed, but the coalition parties reportedly agreed to make Lupu acting head of state without voting on a president.
The coalition bloc is two votes shy of the 61 votes it needs to pick a president.
Moldova has been in political deadlock since November 28 parliamentary elections failed to form a ruling coalition.
A parliament that fails to elect a president must be dissolved, a development that would lead to fresh elections.
compiled from RFE/RL and agency reports
