CHISINAU -- Moldova's ruling coalition has asked the opposition Communist Party to help it change the way the country's president is elected and end a political stalemate that has been dragging on for months, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.
The four pro-Western parties in the ruling coalition said today the Communists are welcome to send their representatives to a new commission that will try to rewrite an article in the country's constitution that requires the president to be elected in the 101-member parliament by a three-fifths majority.
The ruling coalition wants a direct election of the president by Moldovan voters.
The invitation to the Communists comes after the Communist Party said last week it is ready to change that rule through a vote in parliament if the ruling coalition gives up its plan to change larger parts of the constitution via a referendum.
Moldova has been led by an acting president since veteran Communist Party leader Vladimir Voronin stepped down last April after eight years in power.
Last autumn, the Communists used their 43 seats in parliament to twice vote down the coalition's presidential candidate, Marian Lupu.
The four pro-Western parties in the ruling coalition said today the Communists are welcome to send their representatives to a new commission that will try to rewrite an article in the country's constitution that requires the president to be elected in the 101-member parliament by a three-fifths majority.
The ruling coalition wants a direct election of the president by Moldovan voters.
The invitation to the Communists comes after the Communist Party said last week it is ready to change that rule through a vote in parliament if the ruling coalition gives up its plan to change larger parts of the constitution via a referendum.
Moldova has been led by an acting president since veteran Communist Party leader Vladimir Voronin stepped down last April after eight years in power.
Last autumn, the Communists used their 43 seats in parliament to twice vote down the coalition's presidential candidate, Marian Lupu.