The Financial Times has an interesting piece about the former Moldovan Communist Party leader Marian Lupu, who is playing a central role in the current events in Chisinau.  Lupu will essentially be the main coordinator of whatever political alliance able to cobble itself together to pick a new president to replace Vladimir Voronin … if possible.

“We need a very broad political dialogue . . . since no party has enough votes to appoint a president,” said Mr Lupu.

Together, the four opposition parties have a four-seat majority over the Communists in the 101-member legislature, but they are eight votes short of being able to appoint a head of state.

“The Communists will try to divide and rule,” said Mr Lupu. “So first we have to reach a common position with the other three parties and then start talking with the Communists. We have to present Mr Voronin with a situation where he has no choice but to agree on a new president.” (…)