Moldovan Communist leader to step down, says he has already picked a "very handsome man" as successor

Moldovan Party of Communists (PC) head and former President (2001-2009) Vladimir Voronin told the press today that he will step down as PC head.

Mr. Voronin explained that he has already chosen a successor who is "very energetic, very handsome, very young, and very tall. Well, not that tall, because those have problems with development and don't ripen in time."

Mr. Voronin's joke about height refers to Communist defector Marian Lupu, who is very tall.

It is unclear when exactly the PC head will step down. Mr. Voronin has been heading the party for 15 years. During his rule, he managed to win two legislative elections and become President twice (Parliament picks the head of state in Moldova).