Moldova’s recently elected president, Maia Sandu has named Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Aurel Ciocoi interim prime minister, following the resignation of former Prime Minister Ion Chicu.
Sandu announced the appointment through a Facebook on December 31, with her move coming as Chicu refused to serve as a PM until a new government is appointed. According to the country’s constitution, Sandu was obliged to appoint an acting PM from among the outgoing members of the cabinet.
The interim PM, Ciocoi was an adviser to pro-Russian President Igor Dodon and former leader of Moldova’s Socialist Party (PSRM), who was defeated by Sandu in the second round of the country’s presidential elections held on November 15, 2020.
Sandu, the former prime minister and leader of the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) also said she would ask the country’s Constitutional Court to consider allowing the national parliament to dissolve itself and hold snap elections, RFE/RL reported.