President Maia Sandu requested the General Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the actions carried out by the parliamentarians on Friday, April 23, under the aspect of usurpation of state power. President Sandu made the statements after the meeting of the Supreme Security Council where they discussed the latest events in the Parliament related to the Constitutional Court.

“What happened in Parliament today is very serious. The legislature does not have the right to remove judges from the Constitutional Court. Parliament made an unconstitutional attempt to appoint another judge to the Court. It is an unprecedented attack on the constitutional order and the independence of the Constitutional Court. Within the Supreme Security Council, we discussed the risk of undermining the constitutional order.”

I asked the leaders of the law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the General Inspectorate of Police, the National Patrol Inspectorate, the National Army, not to be involved in unconstitutional actions and not to comply with illegal orders. I asked the General Prosecutor’s Office to investigate today’s actions in terms of usurpation of state power. I asked the Intelligence and Security Service to monitor the actions that try to undermine the constitutional order and to ensure the prevention of the destabilization of the situation in the country. We call on Parliament to stop these actions. I call on the international community to follow the situation in our country,” said President Maia Sandu.

Peter Michalko, the head of the European Union Delegation to Moldova, claims that today’s actions in the Parliament are “a clear attack on the Constitution of Moldova”.

“Today’s actions in Parliament against the Constitutional Court, including the attempt to change the composition of the Court, are a clear attack on the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova and on the independence of the Constitutional Court.,” Peter Michalko said in a Facebook post.

The US Embassy in Chișinău posted a note o announcing that the US Ambassador to Chișinău, Dereck Hogan, had a meeting with President Maia Sandu during which they discussed the latest events in the Parliament.

”Ambassador Dereck Hogan met with President Maia Sandu today to discuss recent threats against the constitutional court and today’s unconstitutional attempt to subvert the Constitutional Court by removing Justice Domnica Manole and naming an illegitimate replacement. Additionally, while the vote by the majority of Parliament to condemn the Constitutional Court is non-binding, this lack of respect for the separation of powers is a troubling sign for Moldova’s future. Respect for rule of law, and an independent judiciary, are cornerstones of democracy. Moldova should not return to a climate of fear and intimidation.” reads the Embassy note.

The Romanian Embassy in Moldova announced that it took note with concern of the actions of some political parties in Chișinău against the Constitutional Court, including their attempts to change its composition. According to the institution, the steps taken by the parliamentarians “denote a lack of respect for the constitutional provisions and directly affect the independence of the Constitutional Court.”

“The Romanian Embassy noted with concern the actions of some political parties in Chișinău against the Constitutional Court of Moldova, including their attempts to change its composition. All these steps indicate a lack of respect for the constitutional provisions and directly affect the independence of the Constitutional Court. We remind all political actors in Chișinău the importance of consolidating the rule of law and the need to avoid any decisions that could affect democratic principles,” it is shown in an informative note.

The deputies of the Socialist Party accuse the constitutional judges Domnica Manole, Liuba Șova, and Nicolae Roșca of “usurping the Constitutional Court” and decided on their resignation. The decision was voted by 54 deputies from the Socialist-Shor parties.

Parliamentary Majority Votes For Resignation of Constitutional Court Judges, Accusing them of Usurpation of Power