Moldovan president may refuse once candiate proposed by PM for minister position

Chisinau, 24 January /MOLDPRES/- The president may refuse only once the candidate proposed by Prime Minister for minister position, the second proposal must be accepted. The decision was announced by the Constitutional Court (CCM) today.

Under the decision, the head of state may refuse once the premier’s proposal on appointing a person as minister, when he thinks the candidate does not meet the requirements. “At the same time, the premier can make another proposal to the president or reiterate the same candidate for the position that the president is obliged to appoint”, the CCM decision reads.

The decision is final and cannot be subject to any appeal, it enters into force upon adoption and is published in the Official Journal of Moldova.

The CCM decision was set after the leader of the Liberal Party, Mihai Ghimpu, had submitted a notification asking interpretation of the article No 98 (4) and (6) of the Constitution, providing for appointing the government and its members.

This comes after the defence minister position remained vacant, as former Defence Minister Anatol Salaru was dismissed in late December by President Igor Dodon, following the withdrawal of political support of PL and the request to premier on dismissal of Salaru.

Subsequently, Ghimpu announced that current Environment Minister Valeriu Munteanu would have to lead the Defence Ministry, but Dodon declared he would not accept his candidacy as defence minister.  

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor M. Jantovan)