There is widespread international condemnation of attempts by political forces with close ties to Russia in the Moldovan Parliament to undermine the constitutional order in Moldova.
On Friday (23 April), the members of the Parliament of Moldova from the Party of the Socialists, the Shor Party and For Moldova group voted no confidence in three Constitutional Court judges, declared the appointment of Constitutional Court judge Domnica Manole two years ago invalid and did not recognise the Constitutional Court’s decision of 15 April 2021 regarding the conditions for dissolution of Parliament.
EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, in a statement over the weekend reiterated that under the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, the Constitutional Court is independent of any other public authority and shall abide only by the Constitution. Parliament and the executive power must, therefore, respect the role of the Constitutional Court as the “gatekeeper of the Constitution”, even when they are dissatisfied with its decisions.
"Friday’s votes and declarations, therefore, constitute a blatant attack on the constitutional order of the Republic of Moldova and are an attempt to undermine the rule of law."
In his statement Borell said that the EU recalls that all political actors in the Republic of Moldova need to respect the decisions of the Constitutional Court. The independence of the Constitutional Court is vital to ensure the rule of law and democratic mechanisms - both being fundamental principles to which the Republic of Moldova committed in the EU–Moldova Association Agreement.
A spokesperson for the US State Department on Monday (26 April) added his voice to the condemnation of events in Chisinau.
"The Moldovan Parliament’s attempt to replace Constitutional Court President Domnica Manole with a candidate of its own choosing on April 23 constitutes a blatant attack on Moldova’s democratic norms and its constitutional order. Of particular concern is Parliament’s targeting of the Constitutional Court, which only recently asserted its independence after years of state capture."
The US official said, "we urge Moldova’s leaders and representatives to respect the rule of law, safeguard its democratic institutions, and work together to resolve the challenges facing the country, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We remain committed to advancing cooperation with Moldova on shared priorities, such as combatting corruption, fostering economic growth, and supporting Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Moldova's president Maia Sandu has called for the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections.