Constitutional Court seeks help from Venice Commission

The Constitutional Court decided to consult with the Venice Commission about the procedure for electing the head of state following an inquiry filed by MPs of the Alliance for European Integrationearlier this month. The announcement was made by Head of Parliament Marian Lupu in a program on the public TV channel Moldova 1, Info-Prim Neo reports. The inquiry was made by the Liberal lawmaker Mihai Ghipu, Liberal-Democrat lawmaker Tudor Deliu and Democrat MP Raisa Apolschii. They asked the Constitutional Court if the method of electing the President of Moldova can be modified by organic law. According to Marian Lupu, the Venice Commission may provide an answer in several months, while the request is an absolutely normal one. “If the Constitutional Court and the Venice Commission confirm that Article 78 of the Constitution, which describes the procedure for electing the head of state, is nonfunctional, the legislative body will adopt an organic law,” Marian Lupu explained. He assured that the organic law will not amend the Constitution. It will be designed only to help break the deadlock over the election of the President. The Communist opposition asserts the ruling alliance wants to amend the Constitution so that it serves the interests of the member parties.