A bill to restrict people who have been members of a party declared unconstitutional from standing for election is to be considered in the full parliament. The bill was drafted almost a month after the Constitutional Court (CC) declared the “Shor” political party, led by fugitive former MP Ilan Shor, unconstitutional.

The chairwoman of the Legal, Appointments and Immunities Committee of the R. Moldova, Olesea Stamate, who is one of the people who drafted the bill, confirmed to ZdG that Article 13 could be amended by adding the restriction to stand for election, for a period of 3 years from the date of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the declaration of unconstitutionality of a political party, for “persons who at that time were members of the executive body of the political party declared unconstitutional, persons holding elective office or who were on the lists of substitute candidates from the political party declared unconstitutional.”

Olesea Stamate also gave details in a Facebook post:

“We considered it appropriate and justified for Parliament to legislate a restriction on the right to be elected, namely in the case of persons holding elective office or who were on the lists of substitute candidates from the political party declared unconstitutional. Otherwise, the practical effects of the Constitutional Court’s ruling would have been limited to those currently holding office (by becoming independent). They would be free to stand in the next elections on another party’s list, or as independent candidates, which discredits the very idea of declaring a party unconstitutional as a preventive mechanism,” writes Olesea Stamate.

In November 2022, representatives of the Executive submitted a petition to the CC to verify the constitutionality of the “Shor” political party. According to the petition “through all its activities so far, the “Șor” Party has acted in contradiction with the principles of the rule of law and endangers the sovereignty and independence of Moldova”.

On 19 June 2023 the Constitutional Court admitted the Government’s application. Thus, the political party was declared unconstitutional, deeming the party dissolved.

According to the CC ruling, the “Shor” Party MPs became independent MPs, without the right to join other parliamentary factions. In addition, the seat that was vacated when Ilan Shor was left without a mandate will remain vacant throughout this legislature.

However, on 27 June, Ilan Shor published a “declaration-agreement” according to which the representatives of the political parties “The Alternative and Salvation Force of Moldova” and the Moldovan Party “Ours” formed the political bloc “Chance, Obligations, Achievements – Ș.O.R”. Ilan Shor’s name is not mentioned, although on the Shor party’s website, in a press release, it is stated that “as far as Ilan Shor is concerned, he will have the role of political coordinator in the bloc’s activity”.