CC approves of PLDM’s bill to amend Articles 70 and 71 of Constitution

The Constitutional Court (CC) endorsed the PLDM’s bill to amend Articles 70 and 71 of the Constitution by the votes of five judges, constitutional judge Alexandru Tanase announced Friday. The bill can be debated in Parliament six months after the CC pronounces on the matter. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Liberal-Democrat MP Tudor Deliu said that the bill removes paragraph 3 from Article 70 that refers to the incompatibility and immunity of the MPs. The given paragraph says that the lawmaker cannot be detained, arrested or searched, except for cases when flagrant offenses are committed or the case is sent to court without the legislature’s consent. The bill also suggests including the phrase “for opinions expressed publicly” in Article 71, which says that the MP cannot be persecuted or held accountable for the votes cast or opinions expressed while in office. According to the judge of the Constitutional Court Dumitru Pulbere, the bill does not run counter to the constitutional provisions and can be submitted to Parliament for examination. The Constitutional Court’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.