Moldovan president designates new PM

Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti Saturday appointed Chiril Gaburici as prime minister-designate, according to the presidential press service.

Gaburici has at the most, 15 days to draw up a governing programme and pick his ministers before seeking a confidence vote in parliament, Xinhua reported.

President Timofti held consultations with parliamentary groups Friday and Saturday in a move to designate a new candidate for the premiership after the cabinet proposed by former prime minister Iurie Leanca failed to win the confidence vote in parliament Thursday.

Gaburici was put forward for premiership by the Liberal Democratic Party, the only one among the five parliamentary parties which fielded a candidate.

On Jan 23, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party signed an agreement to form a minority coalition government.

The two parties have together only 42 seats in the 101-seat parliament, while the new cabinet needs 51 votes to pass the vote of confidence in the house.

Gaburici, a 38-year-old businessman, managed the mobile phone company "Moldcell" in 2008-2012 and then its daughter company in Azerbaijan.