<p>BUCHAREST &mdash; Moldova’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday canceled a state of emergency introduced to combat COVID-19 infections, enabling President Maia Sandu to dissolve parliament and call for an early election on July 11.</p>
<p>“Through this decision we have paved the way for citizens to be able to choose a new Parliament that will serve the interests of the country and the people,” Sandu said after the court’s ruling.</p>
<p>In March, Moldova’s parliament voted to introduce a 60-day state of emergency in order to combat rising COVID-19 infections, which blocked the pro-Western president from calling for early elections.</p>
<p>Today’s ruling could help put an end to months of political deadlock in the country of 3.5 million after the Socialist-led parliamentary majority refused twice to appoint prime ministers that Sandu had proposed.</p>
<p>Sandu won the presidential election in November last year beating Moscow-friendly incumbent Igor Dodon. Sandu had campaigned on an anti-corruption, pro-democracy ticket.</p>
<p>Sandu hopes that the July 11 elections will lead to a parliamentary majority.</p>
<p>“Power is now in the hands of the people … I trust that our citizens will choose the right path to creating a developed and democratic state where people can live in peace and well-being,” she said Wednesday.</p>