PARLIAMENT SPEAKER THREATENS TO FURTHER CUT PRESIDENTIAL POWERS

Moldovan Parliament Chairman Andrian Candu threatened President Igor Dodon with further restricting of his presidential powers. Candu wrote this on his Facebook page, commenting on the sayings made by the president, who condemned the Parliament’s passing of a Statement that demanded withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria.

Igor Dodon also expressed disagreement with the Government’s decision not to let Dmitry Rogozin come here on board a Russian defense ministry’s airplane at the head of a Russian delegation.

Dodon stated that next Friday he will welcome Dmitry Rogozin in Chisinau, and on Saturday, July 29, the two will go to Tiraspol to take part in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the peacekeeper operation on the Dniester River.

Last week, President Dodon stated in his interview to Rossiya-24 information-analytical television channel about his intention to hand in Moldovan state awards to Russian and Moldovan peacekeepers “as well as to Transnistrian peacekeepers if only they agree to accept them”.

Candu wrote: “President Dodon was boasting on the Russian television channel that he violates and will be further violating the Moldovan Constitution for the sake of receiving Moscow’s support. Offended with the firm position of the Moldovan Parliament, expressed in our Statement on the need to withdraw Russian troops from Moldova, Igor Dodon promises Moldovan medals to Russian and Transnistrian soldiers thus disturbing our wound that is bleeding yet. Dodon confuses state awards with usual protocol presents. Mr. Dodon, don't force us think that our head of state has too much plenary powers”.

Moldova is a parliamentary republic and the president’s powers are restricted by the Constitution. After Igor Dodon had won the presidential election in late 2016, the Parliament further restricted the scope of his powers.