CHISINAU, August 18 (RIA Novosti) - The first session of Moldova's parliament has been scheduled for August 28, one day short of the deadline for the body to convene, the presidential press service said.
"The first session of the Moldovan parliament will be held on August 28, a day before the possible term for holding the first session of the new parliament expires," a spokesman said on Tuesday.
The parliament session is expected to begin the process of forming a new government and electing a president.
In accordance with the law, the new parliament, which was formed following the July 29 early parliamentary polls, must hold the first session before August 29 or within 30 days from the elections.
The July 29 polls were won by the Communist Party with 44.7% of the vote.
That gave the former ruling party 48 MPs, however, and the remaining 53 seats in the 101-member chamber went to four opposition parties.
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Democratic Party and the Our Moldova alliance announced on August 8 the creation of a ruling coalition, the Alliance for European Integration.
The political standoff that resulted in July's snap election could still derail the process of forming a government, as the new coalition is eight votes short of the 61 needed to elect a president.
If the Alliance for European Integration and the Communist Party fail to find a compromise on a candidate the former Soviet state could face a third election this year.
The Communists won 60 seats in the April election, which triggered violent protests in the capital, Chisinau. The opposition twice blocked the election of the presidential candidate proposed by incumbent President Vladimir Voronin, who is due to step down after two terms in office.
