Moldova's parliament late Thursday endorsed the new coalition government proposed by designated Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, avoiding in this way the imminent early elections.
The new coalition cabinet received 58 votes in favor in the 101-seat parliament, seven more than the required 51 votes - half plus one of the total MPs.
The new government maintained almost the original lineup of the previous one, with only five new names - Natalia Gherman, deputy prime minister and foreign minister; Tatiana Potang, deputy prime minister for Social Issues; Vasile Botnari, transport minister; Monica Babuc, culture minister and Octavian Bodisteanu, minister of youth and sport.
Leanca, a career diplomat of 49 years old, was elected in 2009 to the parliament on the Liberal Democratic Party's ticket, but shortly after that he preferred the post of deputy prime minister and foreign minister in the Filat's first coalition cabinet.