Party of Communists tries to hold legislative session but fails because of lack of quorum

The Party of Communists (PC) showed up to the Palace of the Republic today to hold a legislative session after it left half-way through the Parliament's first meeting on August 28 and said it would return today.

The meeting could not take place, however, because the Communists only have 48 M.P.s, short of a 52-M.P. majority that would have provided a quorum.

The members of the Alliance for European Integration said they would not show up today and set the next meeting for September 10.

Communist M.P. Ivan Calin noted, however, that even if enough M.P.s were present today, the legislature would not have been able to do much until the Constitutional Court rules on the Communist challenge regarding the legality of Mihai Ghimpu's election as a Speaker on August 28.

Mr. Ghimpu was elected after the PC left the building with the votes of the 53 Alliance M.P.s, a move which the Communists said was illegal and unconstitutional.

The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on the challenge in the next few days.

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