“I gave the mandate back and we exchanged opinions,” former candidate for premiership Ion Sturza said after a meeting with President Nicolae Timofti. He noted the absence of the MPs from the special sitting of Parliament is also a kind of vote, IPN reports.

“The head of state will now think what to do next taking into account the interpretations of the Constitutional Court and the parties’ intention to form a parliamentary majority of at least 51 MPs. It is a rather difficult process,” said Ion Sturza, noting he will now withdraw and will monitor the developments.

The former candidate stated it would have been correct for him to be able to state his viewpoint on the government program and the country’s problems in Parliament. “The nonattendance is also a kind of vote,” stated Sturza.

As to the next candidate, Ion Sturza said it is too early to discuss this issue as the parliamentary groups are yet to hold talks. According to him, this is the constitutional logic and it is something normal, but if a majority is not created, the head of state will be free to choose.

“We must be sincere and say that the future candidate must be subject to the same criteria such as integrity, professionalism and patriotism. He will probably have to present a list of candidates for Cabinet member compiled according to the same criteria. It will be a much more complex process, but also more transparent, as I made sure it to be,” stated Sturza.

The attempt to invest the Sturza Government failed as the special sitting of Parliament involved only 47 MPs of the 101 and a quorum was not present.