Prime minister of Moldova resigns over ‘political games’

Moldova’s prime minister has resigned after state prosecutors, whom he has accused of moving slowly over the disappearance of some $1 billion (€887 million) from the country’s banks, questioned him over his school certificates.

“I am tendering my resignation because I don’t want to take part in political games,” Chiril Gaburici told journalists.

The departure of the 38-year-old pro-Europe businessman after just over 100 days in office comes as the tiny ex-Soviet country, one of Europe’s poorest, seethes with resentment over the missing cash, equivalent to around one-eighth of annual GDP.

The country of 3.5 million, lying between Ukraine and Romania, has been ruled since 2009 by pro-western parties that have negotiated a political and free trade deal with the EU and are dedicated to taking it into mainstream Europe.

But economic mismanagement, trade pressure from Russia and the failure of successive governments to tackle corruption mean nostalgia for Soviet times and traditional links with Moscow remains high among large sections of the population.– (Reuters)