PRESIDENT DODON SIGNS DISMISSALS OF AGRICULTURE AND HEALTHCARE MINISTERS

President Igor Dodon signed orders on dismissing two ministers at the proposal of Premier Pavel Filip and the Democratic Party. The head of state wrote about this on his Facebook page.

"I signed orders on dismissing two members of the current Government. It is about Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Liviu Volconovici and Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Svetlana Cebotari", Dodon wrote.

He said that over 1 year and 9 months of his performance of presidential powers, he dismissed already 17 ministers from the current Government.

Speaking on Moldovan public television, the President expressed bewilderment about the personnel reshuffling in the Cabinet of Ministers.

"I do not understand why it is necessary to change the Government when there are several months left until elections. People want that this Government and the Parliament to go away forever. Had Democrats really heard people, they would have long dissolved the Parliament and announced early elections not to procrastinate until February. I am waiting the entire current Government to retire, parliamentary elections to take place and a new parliamentary majority and a new Cabinet of Ministers to be formed", Dodon said.

As Infotag has already reported, the initiative of reshuffle came from DP Chairman Vlad Plahotniuc on Tuesday, while Prime Minister officially addressed to the President in this regard. Pavel Filip stated at a briefing that personnel shake-ups in the Government were agreed with President Igor Dodon. He also expressed hope that this time there will be no blockage from the side of the president.

Instead of the dismissed ministers, the following candidatures were proposed: Director of the Agency for Interventions and Payments in Agriculture Nicolae Ciubuc and Chisinau Ex-Acting Mayor Silvia Radu.

According to the legislation, the orders on dismissals and appointments should be signed by President Igor Dodon. Before, he was signing dismissing orders, but was refusing to sign orders on appointing new members of the Government. For appointing ministers, the authorities several times resorted to temporary suspension of the President from the post. At the Government's demand, the Constitutional Court issues a corresponding decision, while the President's duties are temporarily performed by Parliament Speaker or Prime Minister. Such a case occurred in January 2018, when five new ministers (including the two, dismissed today were appointed) . At the same time, in May, the president agreed to replace the Justice Minister, signing the decree on appointing Victoria Iftodi.