MP salary cuts are legal, CC rules

The Constitutional Court (CC) has found that it is lawful to deprive MPs of their salaries under to the Law on the MPs' status. The Court stated that Parliament has the right to decide on the size of the MPs' salaries based on several criteria such as participation in legislative activities, membership in commissions and delegations etc., Info-Prim Neo reports. The Court ruling's comes in response to a petition from Communist MPs, who demanded the inspection of the constitutional extent of cutting MP salaries up to 75% for their unexcused absences in Parliament and Commission meetings. The CC emphasized that there is no provision that interdicts salary cuts to MPs who skip Parliament and profile Commission meetings. However, the CC pointed out that there is a difference between skipping meeting and a Parliamentary protest. Additionally, the Court notified the Parliament on the need to adapt the legal provisions on parliamentary protest to the June 19 Decision, which stipulates that MPs have the right to protest against bills and rulings by boycotting Parliament meetings. The Constitutional Court’s ruling is irreversible and effective from adoption and publishing in the Official Gazette of Moldova.