Why acting President Vladimir Voronin is resigning

Acting President Vladimir Voronin, who is also head of the Party of Communists, announced in a press release yesterday that he will be resigning as President.

It is unclear when he will officially do so, but Mr. Voronin's position as an M.P. does not allow him to simultaneously hold the presidency. Once his deputy mandate is validated on September 14, he will have to decide between the two positions.

Communist M.P. Vladimir Turcan agreed with this interpretation during a statement to the press.

Speaker Mihai Ghimpu will be interim President after Mr. Voronin resigns and until a new head of state is elected by Parliament.

Both the Alliance for European Integration and the Party of Communists do not have enough seats in the legislature to be able to vote in a President by themselves. Considering the bitter conflict between the two, it is unclear if compromise will be reached. If no President is elected, Moldova will have early legislative elections in 2010.