Moldovan top court rules speaker or premier may issue decree appointing new cabinet members

12:31 | 24.09.2018 Category: Political

Chisinau, 24 September /MOLDPRES/- The Constitutional Court (CCM) today presented a notice stating that the speaker or the prime minister may issue a decree appointing new cabinet members and may take their oath after repeated refusal of President Igor Dodon to promote two ministers proposed by the premier.

Thus, the court found institutional deadlock caused by the repeated refusal of the Moldovan president to appoint new cabinet members proposed by the premier. This is the fourth time when the court ruled to suspend the post of president after he has repeatedly refused to sign decrees appointing the ministers nominated by the premier.

The notice is final, cannot be subject to any appeal, enters into force on the date of issuance and shall be published in the Official Journal of Moldova.

Following the court’s ruling, presidential adviser on legal and institutional relations Maxim Lebedinschi criticized CCM notice. “The Court is used as a political tool. We believe the two ministers are not individuals and do not have the experience to work in these areas. Sorry the Court has taken such a decision," he said.

Two Democratic lawmakers submitted a notification to the CCM late last week requesting the finding of the circumstances justifying establishment of interim presidential post, after Dodon has repeatedly refused to sign decrees appointing new ministers. The notification reads “the repeated refusal of the head of state to sign the decree appointing new ministers would have an institutional conflict.”

Earlier last week, the Democratic Party announced that two ministers in the current government, the Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment and Health, Labor and Social Protection will be changed.

Democrat leader Vlad Plahotniuc said he proposed Nicolae Ciubuc and Silvia Radu for the two ministerial seats previously held by Liviu Volconovici and Svetlana Cebotari. Thus, Radu will lead the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection and Nicolae Ciubuc - the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor L. Alcază)

Any material published on the website of the Public Institution ’’A.I.S. Moldpres’’ (Moldpres News Agency) is intellectual peoperty of the Agency, protected by the copyright. The taking over or/and use of these materials will be made only with the Agency’s agreement and with compulsory reference to source.