Future Moldovan presidents to wear medallion worth 150,000 lei at high-level ceremonies

The future Moldovan presidents will wear a silver medallion, plated with gold, ornamented with precious stones valuing about 150 thousand lei, when being sworn in at. A draft law, endorsed by the Parliament on Monday, February 2, provides for instituting this insignia, that is to replace the tricolor presidential scarf, Info-Prim Neo reports. The draft law is an initiative of three Communist deputies. Anatolie Zagorodnai, one of the authors, stated at the plenary sitting that instituting the new insignia “will ensure an adequate external representation of the state power exercised by the Moldovan president and also his place in the hierarchy of public authorities.” “Most state heads have similar presidential insignia. They are worn at some very important ceremonies and protocol actions,” Zagorodnai said. According to the draft, “The Moldovan president’s medallion” will be composed of a chain and the insignia “The Republic’s Order” broached on a star with 8 silver pyramid-like beams, having 8 axed zircons each and a ruby in the peak. There is a star on the golden crown, which, in its turn, broaches upon another star with 16 beams made of golden fascicles alternating with silver pyramid-like beams, reads the draft. The diameter of the insignia is 120 mm. The silver chain plated with gold is composed of oval horizontal links having a double lily in their middle, and a golden eagle. There is a crown of oak leaves in the middle. The chain is 850 mm long. Anatolie Zagorodnai specified that the design of the medallion, made by painter Semion Odainic, who also made the medallion of the Chisinau mayor, was approved by the National Commission for Heraldry. The medallion will be made at the Jewelry Factory “Giuvaer” and will not cost more than 150 thousand lei, the deputy added.