Mihai Ghimpu holds post of caretaker president legally

The Constitutional Court Thursday ruled that Speaker Mihai Gimpu occupies the position of caretaker head of state legally, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Court's president Dumitru Pulbere recognized the need to lay down clear rules as regards the procedure for taking over the post of president on an interim basis, stressing the importance of the given precedent for the country and for the Constitutional Court. Referring to articles 77, 80, 90 and 91 of the Constitution of Moldova, the meeting's rapporteur Elena Safaieru said that the post of president fell vacant and the Parliament was obliged to appoint a person on an interim basis (the Head of Parliament or the Prime Minister). The Constitutional Court thus passed its judgment on the 18th Parliament's request to rule on the legality of Mihai Gimpu holding the post of caretaker head of state. The parliamentary group of the Communists Party also submitted an application over this issue to the Court. The Communist MPs asked the Court to interpret certain articles from the Constitution of Moldova and decide when the caretaker president should take office – when the Parliament makes such a decision or after the Constitutional Court determines the circumstances in which the caretaker president takes over. The Head of Parliament Mihai Ghimpu was names as caretaker president under a Parliament decision after the post was declared vacant.