April 26 (SeeNews) - Moldova's parliament decided to sack the head of the constitutional court - a move that drew criticism from the United States and the European Union, voting data showed.
Top judge Domnica Manole was dismissed with the combined vote of 54 lawmakers from pro-Moscow Socialist Party (PSRM) and Sor Party, according to data posted on the parliament's website on Friday.
On April 15, the constitutional court ruled that the parliament can be dissolved due to its inability to approve a government within the deadlines set by the constitution, paving the way for early elections. The court's decision, which was adopted in response to a request by Moldova's pro-European president Maia Sandu, is final and cannot be appealed.
The U.S embassy in Moldova said the parliament vote was an unconstitutional attempt to subvert the constitutional court.
"Respect for rule of law, and an independent judiciary, are cornerstones of democracy. Moldova should not return to a climate of fear and intimidation," U.S ambassador to Moldova Derek Hogan said in a social media post on Friday following a meeting with Maia Sandu.
Council of Europe president Gianni Buquicchi said that he is extremely alarmed by the situation in Moldova.
"A decision of the constitutional court that dissatisfies the legislative or executive powers does not amount to an abuse of power or an arbitrary decision. Nor does voting in favour of an unpopular decision of the court amount to a violation of the oath taken by the constitutional judges. Such oath is not taken to the benefit of the political majority of the day. It is an oath to support the constitution, regardless of whether this entails disappointing such majority," Buquicchi said in a statement.
Moldova has been run by a caretaker government led by foreign minister Aurel Ciocoi since December, when former prime minister Ion Chicu resigned in a move aimed to prompt early parliamentary elections.
At the end of March, a cabinet proposed by prime minister-designate Igor Grosu failed to obtain parliament's approval due to lack of quorum.
Sandu nominated Grosu as prime-minister designate on March 16 after Mariana Durlesteanu, the candidate proposed by the coalition controlling the majority of seats in parliament, rejected the nomination. Two days later however, the coalition named the country's ambassador to Moscow, Vladimir Golovatiuc, as prime minister-designate.
According to the country's constitution, the parliament can call a referendum for the suspension of the president on the votes of at least two thirds of the MPs. Regarding the nomination of a new prime minister, if parliament rejects the president's choice twice in the span of 45 days, the head of state can dissolve the assembly and set a date for a snap election.
PSRM, led by former president Igor Dodon who lost to Sandu in the November presidential elections, has 36 MPs. Sor Party, led by businessman Ilan Sor, controls nine seats in parliament, PAS holds 15 seats, while pro-EU Dignity and Truth Party (PDPDA) controls 11 seats. The Democrat Party of Moldova holds 11 seats, Pro-Moldova has seven seats, while the remaining 12 mandates are held by independent MPs.
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