Moldovan Court Temporary Relieves Dodon As President To Allow Snap Elections

The Moldovan Constitutional Court has ruled to temporary transfer power from President Igor Dodon, who had refused to dissolve the parliament, to Democratic Party member and former Prime Minister Pavel Filip so he could end the months-long political deadlock and call snap elections

CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th June, 2019) The Moldovan Constitutional Court has ruled to temporary transfer power from President Igor Dodon, who had refused to dissolve the parliament, to Democratic Party member and former Prime Minister Pavel Filip so he could end the months-long political deadlock and call snap elections.

The court ruling was made on Sunday morning, a day after Dodon's Socialist Party and pro-European ACUM bloc formed a coalition government headed by Maia Sandu, a co-chair of ACUM.

Dodon called the ruling "a desperate measure," the purpose of which was "to use the Constitutional Court, which [the Democratic Party] controls in order to usurp power."

The Constitutional Court also considered Filip's request and ascertained the circumstances justifying the dissolution of the parliament. Filip signed a decree dissolving the parliament and setting snap parliamentary elections for September 6.

At the same time, the parliament held a meeting with only one issue on the agenda: adopting a declaration stating that Filip had usurped power.

"The Moldovan Parliament states that the former [Filip's Democratic Party] government, which has lost Moldova's trust, instead of peacefully transferring power, decided to destabilize [the political situation in the country] through usurping power. The parliament finds Filip's government to be illegitimate," Sandu said, speaking in parliament.

Dodon's spokesman, Ion Ceban, proposed complementing the declaration with a request to the UN Security Council to assess the political situation in Moldova. Moldovan Interior Minister Andrei Nastase noted that it was better to appeal to different international organizations. The declaration, together with all amendments, was adopted unanimously.

The Moldovan Democratic Party had warned that it reserved the right to protest in case a new parliamentary majority was formed. Supporters of the pro-European party rallied on Sunday, setting up tents near ministerial buildings after the party's deputy chairman, Andrian Candu, called on people to protest and demand the president's resignation. Hundreds of people spent the night in front of the Prosecutor General's office, Interior Ministry, Constitutional Court, parliament and Finance Ministry.

In the morning, buses with people from different parts of the country began to arrive in the capital of Chisinau. The rally itself was scheduled to take place at noon.

"I want to thank everyone who has come here today to protect the country from irresponsible politicians who are trying to take it over by passing illegal laws in the parliament. In fact, this is an attempted coup that is conducted by Igor Dodon. He is no longer our country's president," the head of the Democratic Party of Moldova, Vladimir Plahotniuc, declared.

For about an hour, Democratic supporters listened to speeches about how the country's parliament and government were chosen illegally, Dodon was no longer the president, and the Democratic Party would save the country.

"There are elements of the usurpation of power and an attempt to overthrow the government for the benefit of a foreign power. We demand that Igor Dodon resign immediately," a resolution adopted at the rally said.

The Moldovan prime minister went to briefings every two hours on Sunday between meetings of the parliament, parliamentary groups and members of the cabinet.

Sandu first appealed to law enforcement officers to support the legitimate authority and ignore the calls of "usurper" Plahotniuc.

"Politicians come and go, while the country is actually run by public servants. A peaceful transfer of power now depends on your loyalty, we ask you to support the legitimately elected government," Sandu said at a briefing.

She pledged that the new government would organize work in such a way so that public servants did not suffer from pressure and blackmail, as was the case under the Democratic Party's leadership. She also promised that no government workers would lose their job because of political preferences.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT'S DECISIONS ILLEGAL

Throughout the day, various political forces questioned the decisions of the Constitutional Court. The president noted that he saw no reason for dissolving the parliament since the legislature and government had been chosen legally.

"We have asked our international partners to serve as mediators on the issue of a peaceful transfer of power. Otherwise, we will have to bring people to the streets and this may happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, it depends on the situation," Dodon said.

Moldova's prime minister, commenting on the actions of the Constitutional Court, told Sputnik that it did not have powers to do dissolve government bodies.

"The parliament and the government that I head are legally elected bodies and cannot be dissolved by anyone. Moreover, the Constitutional Court does not have such powers, therefore we will not abide by decisions that run contrary to law and the will of citizens," Sandu said.

She also noted that she did not recognize Filip's authority, and that he could not make a decision about the parliament's dissolution. Moreover, Democrats who stubbornly refuse to give power to the legitimate government "will have to bear the responsibility to the full extent of the law for the usurpation of power."

The parliament's speaker, Zinaida Greceanii, has a similar position.

"I cannot bring myself to talk about the unlawfulness of the Constitutional Court's decisions. The court must ensure compliance with the Constitution and do not violate it itself. We will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and the Venice Commission. I will sign [the appeal] tomorrow and our representatives will take it. Let the European structures help us and explain how this could happen in a democratic state," Greceanii said.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a joint statement that the European Union had taken note of the formation of the government coalition in Moldova.

The statement also said that the European Union was ready "to work with the democratically legitimate government, on the basis of a mutual commitment to reforms and to the core principles enshrined in our Association Agreement."

At the same time, the European Union called on Moldovan lawmakers to remain calm and exercise restraint, pointing out that the political crisis could be overcome only through dialogue "between democratically elected representatives."

A similar position was taken by Romania, which now chairs the Council of the European Union. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and the country's government, in Sunday statements, urged all political forces in neighboring Moldova to engage in a "responsible dialogue" to resolve its political crisis. Iohannis also stressed that stability was vitally important for Moldova if the country wanted to continue its European path and a precondition for the implementation of many reforms, including those in the areas of justice and public administration.

"The crisis can be resolved to the benefit of citizens of the Republic of Moldova only through a responsible dialogue of all political forces," Iohannis said in a statement, published on his official website.

Frants Klintsevich, a member of the Russian upper house's defense and security committee, believes that the parliamentary crisis in Moldova and the transfer of Igor Dodon's presidential powers by the Constitutional Court should be seen as an attempt on the part of opposition to prevent the head of state from building a foreign policy that meets the country's fundamental interests.

"I hope that the constitutional crisis in Moldova will not lead to serious cataclysms, or even to outbreaks of violence. I will not claim that Russia is not at all concerned; such a ruse in politics is not one of our characteristics. After all, this is a neighboring country, with which Russia has a great deal in common," the senator said.

Moreover, such processes cannot fail to affect the security problems of the region in general, he added.

"I am talking about Transnistria, about our peacekeepers, who perform the most important mission to prevent conflict there," Klintsevich told Sputnik.

The situation with Dodon, who's now been relieved of his duties for the sixth time, can only be interpreted as "an attempt to prevent him from building an equilibrium foreign policy that meets the country's fundamental interests."

"Russia wants to see Moldova as a friendly, affluent and prosperous country," the politician noted.