CHISINAU, Moldova, Dec. 31 -- Moldovan President Petru Lucinschi Sunday issued a decree dissolving parliament and set Feb. 25 as the date for early elections, the Interfax news agency reported.
"It is no good to enter the new year and the new millennium with the old parliament," he said.
"People must be given the hope that deputies elected in February would be able to improve their life."
Lucinschi's decision followed a constitutional court decision last Tuesday that said the president had the right to dissolve parliament. The decision was expected after parliament failed to elect a successor to Lucinschi.
Lucinschi's decree comes into effect Jan. 12. His term expires Jan. 15, but the president is expected to continue to work until a new parliament is formed and a new head of state is elected.
Lucinschi said though he would not compete in the election, he would back a centrist alliance. He may have been pointing to Prime Minister Dumitru Braghis.
"Centrist forces should form an election bloc," Lucinschi said. "Otherwise they won't be able to form the majority of the future parliament."
