The Constitutional Court has rejected a complaint filed by a group of Socialist MPs challenging the retroactivity of the latest increase in gas rates.

The Court said the issue falls out of its subject-matter jurisdiction.

On January 28, the national energy regulator ANRE authorized an increase in price of gas for households from 11.08 to 14.06 lei/m3 effective from January 1.

The complaint alleged that the retroactivity of this decision failed consumers by skewing their estimations by 37%, and that imposing retroactive prices or taxes violated the right to property as guaranteed by Art. 46 of the Moldovan Constitution.

Refusing to admit the complaint, the Court stated that it had relinquished the authority to control and interpret administrative decisions to lower courts.