LibDem MPs question constitutionality of Government Decision to introduce visas for Romanian visitors

The MPs of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), Alexandru Tanase and Vitalie Nagacevschi, Wednesday filed an application to the Constitutional Court, demanding that it verify the constitutionality of the Government Decision of April 8, 2009 whereby the visa regime for Romanian nationals was reintroduced, Info-Prim Neo reports. The PLDM MPs consider that by this decision the Government of Moldova exceeded its constitutional authority. “We consider that the decision runs counter to article 102 of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova,” jurist Vitalie Nagacevschi said at a news conference. He stressed that the visa regime for all the citizens of the EU member states, including Romania, was cancelled by a law adopted by the Parliament on June 8, 2006. “As the visa regime was abolished by a law, it should have been reintroduced also by a law, not by a Government decision,” Nagacevschi said. “Under the Constitution, the Government is responsible for putting the laws adopted by the Parliament into effect.” Alexandru Tanase said that the way that this decision was carried out was illegal and incorrect. “On April 8, the head of state ordered that the Government introduced the visa regime, but nobody consulted the legislation first to see how that could be done. The diplomatic procedure was not observed as Romania was to be informed about the institution of the regime 48 hours beforehand,” Tanase said. “If this decision is cancelled, the things will return to normality and the Moldovan-Romanian diplomatic relations will be restored.” The outgoing President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin, who participated in the April 8 meeting of the Government, said that the decision to introduce the visa regime was “very important for strengthening Moldova’s statehood” and that “Romania permanently interferes in Moldova’s internal affairs.” He reiterated that the protests in downtown Chisinau, including the April 7 public disorder, were nothing but elements of an attempted coup and that the flag of Romania was hoisted on the building of the Presidential Office not accidentally. The visa regime with Romania came into force on April 9. The visas are issued free of charge only at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Moldova in Bucharest.