Parliament of self-proclaimed Transnistrian republic limits president’s powers

Chisinau, 14 April /MOLDPRES/-The supreme soviet of the self-proclaimed Transnistrian Moldovan republic approved a string of amendments to the constitution and other laws on 13 April, thus limiting the powers of their leader, Yevgeny Shevchuk.

According to a press release of the parliament of the so-called Transnistrian Moldovan republic, “MPs removed the provision allowing the president to introduce new draft laws in legislative emergency mode”. The press release also notes that Shevchuk has used this right 218 times since coming to power. It means that the registration of draft laws in legislative emergency mode forced MPs to discontinue the examination of other documents.

Another amendment states that draft laws approved by MPs may be signed by the speaker and made public, if the president fails to promulgate or return them for re-examination within two weeks, as provided in the constitution. According to the press release, the amendment was adopted as Shevchuk failed to sign 49 legislative documents that have already been approved by the supreme soviet.

At the same time, the Transnistrian press signals a profound “conflict of power” in Tiraspol. Thus, during its extraordinary meeting on 11 April, the parliament of the self-proclaimed Transnistrian Moldovan republic decided to create a commission in charge of examining the causes of the financial crisis in the region. The decision followed after Deputy Speaker Galina Antiufeeva accused Shevchuk of corruption. She urged Shevchuk “to return the 100 million dollars he gained from the activity of his officials and friends”. According to Antiufeeva, Shevchuk allowed electricity sales through fraudulent schemes.

Within 30 days, the commission shall clarify the reasons of the decrease in gas tariffs for “Energocapital” electricity exporting company and control the activity of its stabilization fund, as well as verify all the evidence on the acquisition of 25 per cent of the shares of the Cement Plant from Ribnita district.

For his part, Shevchuk denies these accusations. “These are outspoken lies, which represent the transition of some politicians into the active or preparatory electoral phase, or even into the start of a presidential campaign,” the Transnistrian leader said.

(Reporter L. Grubii, Editor A. Raileanu)