The decision by which the Constitutional Court (CC) declared the law banning the use of the Communist symbols – the hammer and sickle - as unconstitutional was an expected one and is in accordance with the international norms. At the same time, it’s not excluded that the Court’s decision was negotiated. The issue was developed by invitees to the program “Fabrika” on PublikaTV channel, IPN reports.
Communist MP Artur Reshetnikov said that after the PCRM’s symbols were banned, any discussion with the people started with inquiries about the symbols of the PCRM. He considers that another decision was not possible as those who adopted the law violated the Constitution and the human rights. “Those who voted negotiated not only the distribution of posts, but also the removal of the PCRM. I want to believe that the CC restored the rule of law in Moldova. I hope that Moldova returned to the democratic path,” stated Reshetnikov.
Liberal lawmaker Valeriu Munteanu said the Court’s decision is painful, but he does not want to criticize it. However, it cannot annul Moldova’s history. According to him, the decision was negotiated. “This decision confuses me. I wanted Moldova to push this communism away, but it wasn’t possible. The PL encountered difficulties in promoting the initiative and historical wish to ban the Communist symbols within the AEI 2 government. Maybe the PL was excluded from the government because it had to pay this price,” he said.
Doctor in Constitutional Law Nicolae Osmochescu, former CC judge, said the decision didn’t surprise him because the international norm has preeminence before the national one. He made reference to the Venice Commission’s recommendation that the law banning the symbols of the Communist regime should be abolished as it violates the basic human rights.
Constitutional jurist Mihai Petrache said the CC decision didn’t surprise him too. As to the association between the current symbols of the PCRM and the crimes of the totalitarian Communist regime, he reminded that many regrettable actions were taken in the past under the sign of the cross.
Historian Veaceslav Stavila said he does not understand why these symbols are not banned in Moldova, which was an occupied territory and where many crimes were committed. He also said that a large part of the people associate the hammer and sickle with crimes against humanity, including mass deportations.
