Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti on Tuesday appointed Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Leanca as caretaker prime minister after the country's Constitutional Court ruled the incumbent premier could not perform his duties. "I do not have a choice in this situation, this is the president's decision," Leanca told reporters. The appointment becomes the latest twist in a protracted political crisis plaguing Europe's poorest country and comes after Prime Minister Vlad Filat's government resigned last month following a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti on Wednesday named caretaker Prime Minister Vlad Filat, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, to form a new government. According to news reaching here, the President made the designation after his consultations with the parties which formed the former governing coalition, the Alliance for European Integration. "Under the Constitution, Vlad Filat has 15 days to ask for a vote of confidence from MPs," said Timofti. According to the President, Filat was the only candidate proposed by the Liberal Democratic Party, the party that has the l

* Filat government lost confidence vote after feuding with allies * President has 45 days to secure support for new PM * Moldova's pro-EU course could be threatened by early elections By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, March 8 (Reuters) - Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat's pro-Europe government resigned on Friday after being defeated in a confidence vote, raising the prospect of early elections unless a new government is approved within six weeks.

* Filat has fallen out with partners in pro-Europe Alliance * Alliance in power since 2009 after ousting communists * Move might affect drive towards EU (Adds Ghimpu quote, background) By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, March 5 (Reuters) - Moldova's pro-Europe government fell amid anger and bickering on Tuesday when it lost a confidence vote that could affect the former Soviet republic's drive for a place in the European mainstream.