Moldova: Political Deadlock Ends.

Parliament elected a judge with a European outlook as president on Friday, ending nearly three years of political deadlock. Lawmakers approved the election of Nicolae Timofti, the chairman of the Superior Council of Magistrates, but the opposition Communists boycotted the vote. Moldova had been without a president since 2009 because its largest party, which has 58 seats in the 101-seat legislature, could not muster the 61 votes required. On Friday, Mr. Timofti, 62, who wants Moldova to join the European Union and favors democratic and free-market economic reforms, was elected with 62 votes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]