Moldovan parties form government

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8191443.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Moldova's four pro-Western parties say they have agreed to form a coalition government, following polls on 29 July.

The Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Party, Democratic Party and Our Moldova Alliance won a combined total of 53 seats in the 101-member parliament.

They say they want to introduce market reforms and guarantee press freedom, as well as moving closer to Europe.

The four parties ousted the Communist Party, which has been in government since 2001.

The vote was a re-run of the election in April, won by the Communists, which was followed by days of violent demonstrations because of allegations of vote-rigging.

The coalition announcement came after 10 days of negotiations.

"There are 21 principles that unite us and on which basis we have reached a mutual understanding and agreement to create a ruling coalition in Moldova," Liberal Democratic Party leader Vlad Filat said.

But the bloc does not have the required 61 seats, or three-fifths of the chamber, to elect a successor to Communist President Vladimir Voronin, who must step down after serving two terms.

If the coalition cannot reach a deal on this with the Communists, parliament will be deadlocked.

The latest election was called because the previous parliament was in stalemate over the same issue. April's vote gave the Communists 60 seats in the parliament, but not one of the opposition MPs backed their choice of president.