CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) 鈥� Moldova鈥檚 Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced Friday that he’s stepping down, in a surprise move that automatically triggers the government’s resignation.
Munteanu did not give a clear reason for his departure, which comes less than a year after he was sworn in to lead the European Union candidate country’s following a tense election widely viewed as a choice between East and West.
鈥淭oday I end my term as prime minister,鈥� Munteanu wrote in a statement posted on social media. 鈥淭he moment I understand that I can no longer exercise my mandate in accordance with my principles and beliefs, I choose to walk away.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚 accepted the proposal to be prime minister with a lot of responsibility and strong conviction that I can contribute to changing things for the better.鈥�
When a prime minister announces their resignation in Moldova, it takes effect immediately, but the government continues in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.
In a press statement following his resignation, Moldovan President thanked Munteanu for his leadership through a 鈥渃omplex period鈥� for Moldova, but said she expected 鈥渕ore involvement in complicated decisions, more openness to listening to people.鈥�
鈥淣ext week, I will listen to the parliamentary groups to appoint a new prime minister. We must have a united, strong team in the Government that will fulfill our country鈥檚 objective,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are obliged to succeed in and helping the country.鈥�
鈥淔rom my experience, at least in recent years, it is never easy to identify candidates for the position of prime minister,鈥� she added. 鈥淚 cannot know how long it will take, but we must still manage to have a government fairly quickly.鈥�
Landlocked between Ukraine to the east and EU and NATO member Romania to the west, was a Soviet republic until it proclaimed independence in 1991. In recent years it has taken a clear Westward path, turning the country into a geopolitical battleground between Russia and Europe.
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