Moldovan government amends laws on Constitutional Court

Chisinau, 16 November /MOLDPRES/ – The Cabinet of Ministers approved today a bill on amendments of Constitution, and namely Articles 135 and 136 of the Law on the activity of the Supreme Constitutional Court, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

According to the draft, the Constitutional Court judges will have a term of nine years, with no right of renewal, instead of a six-year term as today. The document provides for changing the composition of the Court, which will have seven judges, one more than it is now. It also changes the manner of their appointment, two of whom will be appointed by Parliament, two others by the Government, two more by Superior Council of Magistracy and the seventh by the President of Moldova. Increasing the number of judges in the Constitutional Court also aims to avoid impediments at enunciation of decisions. In this sense, there are examples of the Baltic states and Romania, where there are nine judges. And the term of office is taken from Romania, Lithuania and Serbia, where the magistrates of the Constitutional Courts occupy chairs for nine years. It is considered that a non-renewable mandate exempts the magistrate to extend the mandate concerns.

Another amendment approved in the context of this project, which aims to widen the courts have the right to apply to the Constitutional Court to resolve exceptional cases of unconstitutionality of legal acts. Currently, it is the prerogative of the Supreme Court. According to the project, it is proposed that all courts to obtain that right.

These amendments are to be reviewed and voted on in the Parliament.

(Editor L. Alcaza)