Moldovan President Dodon nominates his own candidate for the post of Minister of Defense
Moldovan President Igor Dodon rejected the candidacy of Eugen Sturza, who was nominated by the ruling coalition for the post of defense minister, instead proposing to the government his own candidate, General Victor Gaiciuc.
The Moldovan leader announced this at a briefing held in Chisinau, Ukrinform reports.
"Today I sent a letter to the Prime Minister rejecting the candidacy of Eugen Sturza for the post of Minister of Defense. Mr. Sturza is an incompetent man in the military sphere, with no professional skills to lead the army. I have proposed an alternative candidacy for a career military [and] former Moldovan Ambassador to NATO, General Victor Gaiciuc," noted Dodon.
Speaking about the intentions of the ruling coalition to amend the Defense Law in order to transfer the authority to send Moldovan servicemen to the exercises from the president to the government, Dodon stressed that he would not sign the amended law, since issues related to the army and national security, according to the Constitution, are the jurisdiction of the president as Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
Victor Gaiciuc was the Minister of Defense of Moldova in 2001-2004, during the reign of the Party of Communists.
The evening prior, the ruling coalition in the country, which is led by the Democratic Party, nominated Eugen Sturza for the post of Minister of Defense of Moldova.
Earlier, the Moldovan president dismissed Deputy Defense Minister Gheorghe Galbura, who also held the post of Minister, because Galbura sent Moldovan military to the Rapid Trident-2017 military exercises against Dodon’s will.