CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SUSPENDS PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE TO APPOINT DP-NOMINATED MINISTERS

On Monday, the Moldovan Constitutional Court has temporarily removed President Igor Dodon from his official duties “to overcome the constitutional crisis caused by the refusal by the head of state to appoint new Ministers of Government – the Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Protection and the Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection”.

Such an inquiry was lodged with the Court last week by Democratic MPs Sergiu Sirbu and Eugen Nichiforciuc who, however, did not show up at the Court sitting today, like Government representatives did not, either.

The Constitutional Court has recognized the President as unable to perform his official duties, and therefore the Ministers may be appointed by Parliament Chairman Andrian Candu or Prime Minister Pavel Filip [both being Deputy Chairmen of the ruling Democratic Party].

Infotag's dossier: This has been the 4th such suspension of the President. Last year, the Constitutional Court suspended presidential duties twice due to his refusal to appoint new ministers. And in early 2018 Igor Dodon refused to promulgate the Law on struggle against the so-called “Russian propaganda”, which was followed by one more suspension. In all such previous cases, the presidential duties went to the Parliament Chairman, who was the country’s Acting President for 10-15 minutes – enough for signing minister appointment papers or for promulgation of a law.