called the process illegal. The governments of Russia, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom all recognised the newly-formed Sandu cabinet as the legitimate government. On 14 June Filip stepped down and allowed the PSRM–ACUM government to take office. However, the new government was subsequently ousted in a motion of no confidence in Parliament on 12 November in a dispute over a draft law assumed by the government to delegate a part of its plenary powers to the Prime Minister to propose a "shortlist" with the candidates for Prosecutor General's position. Another new PSRM–PDM government, headed by Ion Chicu, was formed on 14 November 2019. The Democratic Party left the coalition on 7 November 2020, during presidential elections, to allow the formation of a new government under the new president. The Chicu cabinet remained in office as a minority government, supported by the Șor Party, with the PDM ministers replaced by independents. Former prime minister and PAS (ACUM) leader Maia Sandu was elected president on 15 November 2020. Chicu resigned as Prime Minister on 23 December, hours ahead of a PAS-sponsored motion of no confidence. Sandu planned to appoint Natalia Gavrilița to the position of Prime Minister twice in order to trigger early elections, as under the constitution of Moldova, two failures of Parliament to approve a new government within 45 days of the first request will lead to the dissolution of parliament. Sandu first nominated Gavrilita to the position on 27 January 2021, with her candidacy being unanimously voted down by the parliament on 11 February. The PSRM and its allies then proposed Mariana Durleșteanu for the position with the support of 54 of 101 MPs, but Sandu instead re-nominated Gavrilița on 11 February 2021. However, the Constitutional Court ruled on 23 February 2021 that Sandu should not have nominated Gavrilita twice. Sandu nominated Igor Grosu to the position on 16 March after Durleșteanu withdrew her candidacy. Grosu failed to get his government approved due to the socialist-led opposition boycotting the vote, which resulted in the vote failing due to a lack of a quorum. The two failed attempts made early parliamentary elections possible, and Sandu asked the Constitutional Court to verify the constitutionality of dissolving parliament and holding snap elections. However, on 31 March Parliament voted to impose a 60-day state of emergency, during which a snap election could not be held, to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.