Head of state requests reexamining amendments concerning status of local office holders

President Nicolae Timofti sent the law adopted on December 26, 2012, whereby a number of amendments were made to the Law on the Status of Local Office Holder, the Law on Local Public Administration, and the Election Code, to Parliament for reexamination. The head of state has objections to some of these amendments, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the presidential press service. Under the amendments, the local council will no longer be able to withdraw the seat of a local councilor. This right is given to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The legislative body also made a number of procedural changes. Nicolae Timofti formulated a series of objections to the given amendments, based on the provisions of the Constitution. He said the CEC, by definition, cannot have the power to withdraw and validate seats of local councilors. According to the Election Code, the commission implements the electoral policies and makes sure that the elections take place correctly. The head of state also said that transferring the powers of the local councils to a central body represents interference in the work of the local public administration and is a violation of the principle of local autonomy stipulated in the Constitution and the European Charter of Local Self-Government.