Press Release Directorate of Communication Ref: 453a10 Tel. +33 3 88 41 25 60 Fax +33 3 88 41 39 11 Internet: www.coe.int e-mail: [email protected]

47 member States Council of Europe mediates solution to end constitutional

Albania crisis in Moldova Andorra Armenia Chisinau, 03.06.2010 – Today in Moldova, the four party leaders in the governing Austria “Alliance for European Integration” (AEI) announced that the government will hold a Azerbaijan referendum to amend Article 78 of the Constitution (to allow for direct election of the Belgium President), dissolve Parliament and call for new elections. The referendum is expected Bosnia and Herzegovina to be held in the first half of September and new parliamentary elections are to be Bulgaria organised in Autumn after the Parliament’s dissolution in October. Croatia Cyprus Today’s solution was reached as the result of the lengthy mediation efforts by the Czech Republic Council of Europe and its Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, after it became clear Denmark that a broad compromise between the governing Alliance and the opposition Communist Estonia Party (CPRM) was not possible. Finland France Statements Georgia Germany “We have to follow the European path and I am grateful to the Secretary General who Greece has helped us reach a solution to overcome this crisis,” said Acting President of Moldova Hungary Mihai Ghimpu. Iceland Ireland Prime Minister Vlad Filat said: “It is important that we stand united and ensure the Italy implementation of the solution reached today. This requires the full support of all Latvia parliamentarians of the Alliance. Without the help of the Council of Europe and the direct Liechtenstein intervention of its Secretary General we would not have succeeded in bringing this crisis Lithuania to an end”. Luxembourg Malta The leader of the Democratic Party, Marian Lupu, added: “I am very glad that we can Moldova present today a joint consolidated solution to overcome the current constitutional crisis”. Monaco Montenegro “I am glad to be able to fully support the decision made by the Alliance to end this crisis. Netherlands I have discussed it with EU leaders and they are fully behind the solution. I have been in Norway contact with all four leaders of the Alliance and the leader of the Communist Party in an Poland effort to find a way to amend Article 78. It was not possible to reach a broad compromise Portugal between the alliance and the Communist Party on this and the only way forward was to Romania bring the decision to the people, which is normal in any democracy. The solution is Russia supported by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission and the European Union. I San Marino appeal to all citizens in Moldova to exercise their right to vote in the coming referendum,” Serbia said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. Slovakia Slovenia Note to editors Spain Sweden The Acting President of Moldova Mihai Ghimpu would have been obliged to dissolve Switzerland Parliament on 16 June 2010 and call elections. Amendments to Article 78 of the “The former Yugoslav Constitution are needed to break the political and institutional deadlock. There have Republic of been three attempts to elect a President in just over one year. Two alternative proposals Macedonia” for constitutional amendments were made by the CPRM and the AEI, neither of which Turkey had the necessary 2/3 majority to get the proposal passed. Ukraine United Kingdom The Council of Europe Secretary General was invited to Chisinau on 2 and 3 June to mediate a solution between the sides with a view to unlocking the political crisis. To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact: [email protected]

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47 member states.