The Supreme Court of Justice has ordered the Chisinau Court of Appeals to have a different panel re-examine the ruling that overturned the decision which barred Șansă Party from running in the latest local elections.

The measure satisfies the appeal lodged by the Security and Intelligence Service and the Emergency Commission, the one that issued the prohibitive decision. The appellate court’s overturning ruling of December 12 shall be considered quashed.

Șansă Party president Alexei Lungu denounced the reversal as “a subdual of the Supreme Court”, promising to “continue the fight” against the ruling party PAS.

On December 12, the Chisinau Court of Appeals overturned the decision by the Emergency Commission which prevented Șansă Party, affiliated with the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, from participating in the November elections. Later, the Government’s spokesperson Daniel Vodă said the ruling would be appealed so that “national security could be defended from criminal groups”.