Alliance for European Integration

The 300 MPs elected on May 21 were sworn in Sunday afternoon.

The new Parliament, in which no party achieved an overall majority, will elect a Speaker and deputy speakers Monday. It will then be dissolved by presidential decree, either Monday or Tuesday, and new elections proclaimed, for June 25.

Russian prosecutors have accused the ex-leader of the former ruling party in Moldova, Vlad Plahotniuc, of drug trafficking.

Russian Ambassador in Bucharest Valery Kuzmin said Wednesday that his country agrees and supports the formation of a ruling coalition in Moldova, pointing out that Russia's interest is in the Republic of Moldova being a stable country. "Our official position is very clear, is that of the Foreign Ministry on June 10.

As the international community appealed for calm in Moldova, the new Prime Minister, Maia Sandu, defiantly summoned her cabinet to meet on Monday in parliament - despite a blockade by police still obeying the former government led by Pavel Filip.

Moldova plunged deeper into crisis on June 9 as a new, acting president dissolved parliament and called elections just after lawmakers appeared to have formed a government following months of wrangling.

Months after parliamentary elections, Moldova has failed to form a new government - and its future orientation towards either Russia or Europe hangs in the balance.

Experts see four possible scenarios for a new ruling alliance in Moldova after last month's election. Three of them involve the Democratic Party retaining power.

A Moldovan diplomatic mission will arrive in Moscow on Thursday for the first inter-ministerial talks since April 2017, when Moldova froze ties with Russia after accusing Russia of trying to kill the ruling pro-Western Democratic Party's leader, Vlad Plahotniuc.

Moldova also claimed that its officials were harassed by the Russian authorities every time they visited the country.

Justice Minister Victoria Iftode on Monday evening rejected a draft bill aimed at giving more electoral rights to Moldovan citizens living abroad.

The MPs behind the draft legislation wanted elections to be held over two consecutive days so that all Moldovan citizens can exercise their right to vote.

Dignity and Truth Platform, PPDA, candidate Andrei Nastase won the second round of the local elections for Chisinau's City Hall on Sunday, beating pro-Russian Socialist Party candidate Ion Ceban.