BUCHAREST, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Moldovan parliament on Tuesday passed a motion of censure against the coalition government of Prime Minister Maia Sandu. The motion was filed last Friday by the coalition member Socialist Party (PSRM), which was dissatisfied with Sandu's decision to change the rules and take on the powers to appoint the prosecutor general without consulting them
According to local news reports, the motion was passed by 63 votes in favor, much more than the required minimum of 50 percent plus one (51 votes) in the 101-seat single chamber parliament.
The no-confidence vote was supported by MPs of the PSRM and the opposition Democratic Party, according to the state news agency Moldpres.
Sandu's draft legislative amendment would have enabled the prime minister to pre-select at least two candidates for the post of prosecutor general and to submit these names to the Superior Council of Prosecutors. This body would then elect one of the candidates proposed and would forward the name to the head of state.
The Socialists argued that the measure of taking responsibility before the parliament is allowed only in emergency cases, which is not the process of appointing the Prosecutor General.
Moreover, the prime minister did not hold the necessary consultations on this issue with her Socialist colleagues in the ruling coalition, according to Socialist deputies.
Thus, Sandu's cabinet was toppled five months after it took office on June 8, also marking the end of the PSRM's coalition with the pro-western ACUM electoral alliance.
According to the legislation in force, the prime minister resigns within 3 days after losing motion of censure, then the head of state should initiate consultations with the parliamentary parties to come up with proposals for a new government.
The parliamentarians have at their disposal three months to vote a new government, otherwise, snap polls will be held.
