Liberals against banning dual citizenship holders from top positions

The Liberal Party (LP) is deeply concerned about the bill that bans holders of dual citizenship from holding top government and public service posts and calls on the embassies of the EU member countries accredited in Chisinau, the U.S. Embassy, the Council of Europe, the EU Parliament and the European Commission to take a stance against the document, which has already passed first reading. LP president Mihai Ghimpu told a news conference today that if adopted the law could put at disadvantage tens of thousands of citizens of Moldova who lawfully hold dual citizenship. In his words, this summer’s local elections proved that the Communists are losing popularity, this is why they hurry to enact barriers to functionaries and politicians. “The Communists give with one hand and take with the other”, Ghimpu said, adding “Several years ago they gave green light to dual citizenship by amending the Constitution and the Citizenship Law; now they deprive the citizens of the right to participate in public life, which is fundamental in a democracy”. The fact that the citizens of this country strive for other citizenships is a proof that the current government is not able to provide them with decent jobs and wages, a safe tomorrow and European prospects, the LP president said. Ghimpu admits that some European countries do place limitations related to citizenship, but they were introduced before the European Union was formed. Today Europe tends to remove all the employment restrictions placed on dual citizenship holders. According to a crossborder survey some 101,600 Moldovan citizens concurrently hold the citizenship of Romania, and other 30,000 the citizenship of the Russian Federation, the cited source said. The respective bill passed first reading on October 11. It bans holders of dual citizenship from a number of top positions like members of Parliament and Cabinet, Interior Ministry officers, members of the Court of Accounts, judges, members of the central bank’s board, ombudsmen, customs officers, prosecutors, and other.