CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) - Five European nations have joined NATO in appealing for "calm and restraint" in Moldova, where a court installed an interim president who immediately dissolved parliament and rival governments are fighting for control.

France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom declared support Monday for the Moldovan Parliament, which was elected in February and disbanded a day after lawmakers elected Maia Sandu of the pro-European Union ACUM alliance as prime minister of a new coalition government.

Russia also backed the governing coalition formed by ACUM and the Socialists, but the Democratic Party-led government refuses to recognize it.

Moldova's Constitutional Court disrupted the transfer of power by suspending President Igor Dodon, the Socialists former leader, and appointing outgoing Prime Minister Pavel Filip to replace him. The president has the authority to dissolve parliament and to call a snap election.

FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 file photo, a man holds a European Union flag as people stand by shoes of Moldovan citizens working abroad are placed on the pavement in Chisinau, Moldova. A Moldovan court has appointed former prime minister Pavel Filip as interim president, a day after a new government was formed following a months-long political stalemate. The Constitutional Court said Sunday, June 9 that Igor Dodon, who supported the new government, was being relieved of his duties for failing to comply with its ruling to dissolve parliament. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, file)

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 file photo, Maia Sandu, leader of the ACUM opposition alliance, speaks to people during an electoral meeting in Loganesti, Moldova. A Moldovan court has appointed former prime minister Pavel Filip as interim president, a day after a new government was formed following a months-long political stalemate. The Constitutional Court said Sunday, June 9 that Igor Dodon, who supported the new government, was being relieved of his duties for failing to comply with its ruling to dissolve parliament. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019 file photo, Moldova's President Igor Dodon exits a voting cabin in Chisinau, Moldova. A Moldovan court has appointed former prime minister Pavel Filip as interim president, a day after a new government was formed following a months-long political stalemate. The Constitutional Court said Sunday, June 9 that Igor Dodon, who supported the new government, was being relieved of his duties for failing to comply with its ruling to dissolve parliament. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE- In this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 file photo, seen through the mesh covering of an electoral advertising point for the Socialits' Party, people walk in Chisinau, a day before the country holds parliamentary elections. A Moldovan court has appointed former prime minister Pavel Filip as interim president, a day after a new government was formed following a months-long political stalemate. The Constitutional Court said Sunday, June 9 that Igor Dodon, who supported the new government, was being relieved of his duties for failing to comply with its ruling to dissolve parliament.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, file)

Vladimir Plahotniuc, the leader of the Moldova's Democratic party, and the country's de facto leader, clenches his fist gesturing next to interim president Pavel Filip, right, as people hold turkeys before throwing them over the fence of the Modovan presidency building in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, June 9, 2019. Moldova's interim president Pavel Filip has dissolved parliament and called for snap elections on Sept. 6 amid a months-long political crisis, announcing his decision shortly after his appointment on Sunday by the Constitutional Court to replace president Igor Dodon.(AP Photo/Roveliu Buga) </s> CHISINAU (Moldova), June 9 — Moldova’s acting president Pavel Filip today dissolved parliament and called snap elections, as a political crisis rocks the ex-Soviet country.

Filip signed a decree dissolving parliament and calling snap elections for September 6 after the Constitutional Court earlier Sunday suspended pro-Russia president Igor Dodon and named Filip, who is the acting prime minister, as acting president.

Filip told a briefing that Dodon had refused to sign a decree dissolving parliament after the Constitutional Court on Friday judged that the assembly should be dissolved and new elections held.

The Constitutional Court then this morning suspended Dodon at the request of the parliament’s second biggest force, the Democratic party.

Moldova’s parliament on Saturday had approved a new government combining pro-Russia and pro-European forces in a bid to end a political crisis sparked by February elections.

No party won a clear majority in the chaotic polls, throwing the country nestled between Ukraine and Romania into political uncertainty. — AFP </s> CHISINAU (Reuters) - A Moldovan court on Sunday relieved Igor Dodon of his duties as president and appointed former prime minister Pavel Filip as interim president, a statement said.

The court explained its decision by the fact that Dodon had not dissolved parliament as mandated by an earlier Constitutional Court verdict.

Filip’s Democratic Party of Moldova on Saturday had vowed to challenge the legitimacy of a new government formed by the Russian-backed Socialist party and the pro-European Union ACUM bloc. Dodon is a former chief of the Socialist party and backed the formation of the new government.

ACUM leader Maia Sandu, a former education minister and World Bank adviser, was appointed as the new prime minister on Saturday, vowing to curb the influence of oligarchs in the east European country.

Her appointment followed months of deadlock after a February election produced a hung parliament.

But the Democrats accused her and the Socialists of usurping power. They say Dodon had ignored a ruling by the Constitutional Court stipulating that if a government was not formed by June 7, there would have to be another election.

Moldova has been dogged by political instability and corruption, especially since a scandal known as the “theft of the century” emerged in 2014-2015 in which $1 billion, around an eighth of its economic output, was pilfered from three banks. </s> FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 file photo, a man holds a European Union flag as people stand by shoes of Moldovan citizens working abroad are placed on the pavement in Chisinau, Moldova. A Moldovan court has appointed former prime minister Pavel Filip as interim president, a day after a new government was formed following a months-long political stalemate. The Constitutional Court said Sunday, June 9 that Igor Dodon, who supported the new government, was being relieved of his duties for failing to comply with its ruling to dissolve parliament. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, file)

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Five European nations and Russia declared support Monday for elected lawmakers in Moldova, where a court-appointed interim president dissolved parliament and called a new election the day after a new coalition government won approval.

In a joint declaration, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom said the parliament picked in February had made important decisions "including the formation of a government." A majority voted in an emergency session Saturday to make pro-Europe leader Maia Sandu prime minister of a governing coalition of her ACUM alliance and the Socialists.

The previous government, led by the Democratic Party, has refused to recognize Sandu and make way for a new Cabinet. Both claimed to have the only legal mandate to govern Moldova, though the new government had strong backing from outside.

"In the current constitutional crisis, we see and support the Parliament of Moldova, as the representative of the people of Moldova, and as the best place to discuss all political issues including controversial ones," the European nations said.

Moldova's Constitutional Court disrupted the transfer of power Sunday by suspending President Igor Dodon, the Socialists former leader, for refusing to carry out an order to disband parliament himself. The court said a 90-day deadline for forming a new government elapsed Friday.

It appointed the prime minister in the existing Democratic Party-led government, Pavel Filip, to replace Dodon. Filip immediately disbanded parliament and called a snap election for September. The head of the Democratic Party, Vladimir Plahotniuc, is Moldova's current de facto leader.

Russia also backed the governing coalition formed by ACUM and the Socialists on Monday.

"We count on the earliest possible normalization of the situation in Chisinau in the interests of all Moldovan citizens and the progressive development of the country." the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The only possible way to solve the internal political crisis in Moldova is the dialogue of all responsible political forces in accordance with generally accepted democratic principles."

NATO and the Council of Europe also have expressed concern about the political developments. Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland asked the council's Venice Commission of constitutional law experts for its opinion.

"Recent decisions of the Constitutional Court are difficult to understand and seem to be arbitrary in the light of the text of the Constitution and of international rule of law standards," he said over the weekend. "In a democratic state everybody must respect the Constitution, in case of uncertainty a good objective advice is always needed." </s> CHISINAU, June 9 (Reuters) - A Moldovan court on Sunday relieved Igor Dodon of his duties as president and appointed former prime minister Pavel Filip as interim president, a statement said.

Filip's Democratic Party of Moldova had on Saturday vowed to challenge the legitimacy of a new government formed by the Russian-backed Socialist party and the pro-European Union ACUM bloc. Dodon is a former chief of the Socialist party and backed the formation of the new government. </s> Moldovan acting President Pavel Filip has dissolved parliament and called snap elections for September 6 as the former Soviet country faces a political crisis.

Filip made the announcement on June 9, shortly after the Constitutional Court suspended pro-Russian President Igor Dodon and named Filip, who is the acting prime minister, as acting president.

Dodon has been frequently at odds with Filip and his government, which favors closer ties with the EU and the United States.

Hundreds of people have taken to streets in the capital, Chisinau, since June 8 to protest against Dodon and to support the Constitutional Court's ruling. The rally is organized by the Democratic Party, led by Vlad Plahotniuc, Moldova's richest person.

Filip's announcement comes a day after parliamentary leaders met in an extraordinary session in the latest attempt to form a government following inconclusive elections in February.

The Socialist Party and the pro-European right-center ACUM bloc, which together control 61 seats out of 101, convened the June 8 session, at which they signed an agreement on political cooperation and approved a new government.

However, the Constitutional Court the same day responded affirmatively to a request by the Democratic Party, which controls 30 mandates, to nullify the proceedings.

Representatives of the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party on June 7 failed to reach an agreement on cooperation. A spokesman for the Democratic Party said it would not recognize the decisions of the extraordinary session.

The rump parliament voted to approve Socialist Party leader Zenaida Greceanii as parliament speaker and voted on other key parliamentary leadership posts.

In addition, ACUM co-Chairwoman Maia Sandu was approved as prime minister. ACUM co-Chairman Andrei Nastase was named deputy prime minister and interior minister.

Vasile Sova, President Igor Dodon's adviser on reintegration, was named deputy prime minister for reintegration. Academic and political analyst Nicolae Popescu was named minister for foreign affairs and European integration.

Sandu said her government's program consisted of "the country's liberation from the oligarchical system," "the restoration of the economy and cooperation with the International Monetary Fund," and "the fight against corruption and poverty."

The Constitutional Court almost immediately issued a statement invalidating the proceedings.

"The court finds the decision of June 8, 2019, taken by the members of the 10th parliament to elect Zinaida Greceanii to the post of speaker of parliament to be unconstitutional," the court's statement said.

The court also declared all future decisions of the parliament invalid as well.

Dodon, the former head of the Socialist Party, attended the extraordinary session to support the last-minute effort to form a government.

The office of European Union foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini issued a statement calling for "calm and restraint," adding that "the European Union expects the Republic of Moldova...to respect the rule of law and guarantee democracy."

Peter Michalko, the European Union ambassador to Moldova, posted on Facebook that "democratically elected representatives should decide the outcome of the political process."

Under Moldovan law, if parliament fails to form a government within three months of the certification of election results, the president can dissolve the legislature and call new elections.

The February elections were certified on March 9, and analysts have assumed that the deadline for forming a new government was June 9.

However, on June 7 the Constitutional Court ruled that the deadline was actually June 7, 90 days after the certification.

In addition, there is a dispute about whether the president must dissolve parliament. The Constitutional Court ruled that he must, while Dodon argues that the president has the option of allowing continued efforts to form a government.

The Democratic Party has said they will ask the Supreme Court to rule on the matter.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis issued a statement urging all political forces in Moldova to respect democracy and the rule of law. </s> CHISINAU, Moldova — Five European nations and Russia declared support Monday for elected lawmakers in Moldova, where a court-appointed interim president dissolved parliament and called a new election the day after a new coalition government won approval.

In a joint declaration, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom said the parliament picked in February had made important decisions “including the formation of a government.” A majority voted in an emergency session Saturday to make pro-Europe leader Maia Sandu prime minister of a governing coalition of her ACUM alliance and the Socialists.

The previous government, led by the Democratic Party, has refused to recognize Sandu and make way for a new Cabinet. Both claimed to have the only legal mandate to govern Moldova, though the new government had strong backing from outside.

“In the current constitutional crisis, we see and support the Parliament of Moldova, as the representative of the people of Moldova, and as the best place to discuss all political issues including controversial ones,” the European nations said.

Moldova’s Constitutional Court disrupted the transfer of power Sunday by suspending President Igor Dodon, the Socialists former leader, for refusing to carry out an order to disband parliament himself. The court said a 90-day deadline for forming a new government elapsed Friday.

It appointed the prime minister in the existing Democratic Party-led government, Pavel Filip, to replace Dodon. Filip immediately disbanded parliament and called a snap election for September. The head of the Democratic Party, Vladimir Plahotniuc, is Moldova’s current de facto leader.

Russia also backed the governing coalition formed by ACUM and the Socialists on Monday.

“We count on the earliest possible normalization of the situation in Chisinau in the interests of all Moldovan citizens and the progressive development of the country.” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “The only possible way to solve the internal political crisis in Moldova is the dialogue of all responsible political forces in accordance with generally accepted democratic principles.”

NATO and the Council of Europe also have expressed concern about the political developments. Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland asked the council’s Venice Commission of constitutional law experts for its opinion.

“Recent decisions of the Constitutional Court are difficult to understand and seem to be arbitrary in the light of the text of the Constitution and of international rule of law standards,” he said over the weekend. “In a democratic state everybody must respect the Constitution, in case of uncertainty a good objective advice is always needed.”

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> Five EU states including Britain, France and Germany on Monday threw their support behind Moldova’s parliament as it negotiated a constitutional crisis pitting it against an interim president wanting it dissolved to hold new elections.

The parliament of the poor ex-Soviet state, nestled between Romania and Ukraine, is the “best place to discuss all political issues,” the EU countries, including Poland and Sweden, declared in a joint statement.

Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest nations and not an EU member, has been struggling with political chaos since a general election in February failed to give a clear majority to any party.

A day after its Constitutional Court on Friday said fresh elections needed to be held, the parliament approved a new government built on an unprecedented coalition of pro-Russian and pro-European forces.

The Court then effectively blocked that governing alliance by suspending the country’s president, Igor Dodon, and appointing the former prime minister, Pavel Filip, as interim leader.

Filip immediately ordered the parliament dissolved and new elections for September 6.

In Monday’s statement, the five EU states backed the parliament over the other constitutional branches.

“In the current constitutional crisis, we see and support the parliament of Moldova, as the representative of the people of Moldova, and as the best place to discuss all political issues including controversial ones,” they said.

They echoed a broader European Union appeal for “calm and restraint” and stressed that “all the sides bear responsibility for the resolution of this constitutional crisis by peaceful means”.

Dodon is from the pro-Russian Socialist Party, which said Saturday it was willing to join the pro-European ACUM alliance to run the country. Both parties said Moldova was “wallowing in corruption” and “captive” to oligarchs.

But that proposed tie-up would have frozen out the previous ruling party, the Democratic Party, which is led by a powerful oligarch, Vlad Plahotniuc.

On Sunday, thousands of Democratic Party supporters rallied in the capital Chisinau, many of them bussed in and watched over by a heavy police presence.

Plahotniuc addressed the crowd, saying he was confident his party would win the September 6 elections and describing Dodon as “not worthy of occupying the post of president”.

Dodon, for his part, complained that the Democratic Party was refusing to hand over power to “a lawful parliamentary majority and a lawful government” and urged international mediation.

Moldova, once part of Romania before it became a Soviet Republic then independent, contains a Russian-backed breakaway region called Transnistria. </s> Moldova’s new pro-Moscow president Igor Dodon was criticised today by the country’s prime minister Pavel Filip, after he said in Moscow, on Tuesday 17 January, that the landmark agreement bolstering ties between Moldova and the European Union was concluded “hastily” and suggested he would abandon it, paving the way for an alliance with Moscow.

Dodon, who won the presidency in November after promising better ties with Moscow amid popular discontent with the government’s pro-Western policies, was making his first trip abroad since he was sworn in as president on December 23.

Prime minister Pavel Filip reminded today Dodon that according to the Constitution the president „cannot make such statements, or take such decisions”.

Meeting with the head of Russia’s upper parliament house, Valentina Matviyenko, Dodon said on January 17 that Moldova “signed certain agreements with the EU that hastily came into force in 2014.”

He was referring to the Association Agreement that aims to create closer political ties and remove trade barriers between the EU and Moldova, a small former Soviet republic that borders EU member Romania and Ukraine.

Dodon, who met later with President Vladimir Putin, said that Moldova will seek new agreements but did not say with whom or discuss any other details.

Dodon has made conflicting statements about the Association Agreement, telling Russian media and officials he would work to scrap it while acknowledging in meetings with Western officials and reporters that he does not have the power to cancel it.

Moldova is a parliamentary republic in which the president has largely symbolic tasks, but Dodon’s legitimacy is enhanced because he is the first president in 15 years to be elected through direct voting.
The Constitutional Court of Moldova dissolves the national parliament and removes Moldovan President Igor Dodon from office, appointing former prime minister Pavel Filip in his place. Dodon, as well as the Parliament of Moldova defy the move, hence triggering a constitutional crisis.