Chisinau - Vladimir Voronin, the Moldovan president and head of the country's Communist Party, quit his job as chief executive on Wednesday, shifting the long-term political stalemate in the former Soviet republic to the legislature.

"It is true, I will only be fulfilling the role of a simple MP in the future," Voronin told reporters from the Infotag news agency. "I have resigned as president."

"At this critical point in time for our Nation and our party, I do not intend to continue in the rather doubtful and split situation of being the acting president," said a statement from Voronin on his official website.

Voronin's departure would eliminate a frequent complaint of pro- Europe politicians currently controlling Moldova's parliament: that the country's economic and social problems continue because Voronin remained in power.

If Voronin's replacement comes from the ruling coalition's ranks, control of Moldova's government by pro-Europe forces would solidify and, according to some observers, be decisive.

But Moldovan constitutional statute requires the votes of 61 deputies in the 101-seat house for election of a new president - 8 votes short of the 53-member majority held by a four-party pro-Europe coalition that currently controls the Moldovan legislature.

Voronin's Communists control the remaining 48 seats, making Voronin - if he can maintain party discipline - a potential kingmaker.

A stand-off between Moldova's Communists and the opposition, with Voronin's party unable to assemble the needed 61 votes to push a presidential candidate through parliament, ended in a hung parliament in June and the decision to hold new elections. (dpa)