PETRU LUCINSCHI

PETRU LUCINSCHI

, whose term expires in January, hopes to hang on to power through a parliamentary deadlock. It could happen. Election requires a three-fifths (61 of 101) majority. A communist-dominated center-left coalition controls well more than that, but the coalition’s junior partner is balky. Western concerns about a communist government may also have an impact, because Western money is essential for any hope of recovery for the bankrupt state. If the communists cannot rally the votes, there is no obvious alternative, and the maximum four ballots could be held with no winner emerging. Lucinschi would then dissolve the parliament, call early elections and stay in office until a new legislature picks a new executive.