Moldovan president rejects repeatedly Eugen Sturza's candidacy for position of defense minister

Chisinau, 19 September /MOLDPRES/- President Igor Dodon announced today he repeatedly rejected Eugen Sturza’s candidacy for the position of defense minister.

The president wrote on a social network that he had sent an official letter to the government refusing to accept Sturza’s candidacy for the position of defense minister.

“As promised, I did not accept him at the second attempt, under any conditions. I understand that the government of Filip is now inventing procedures to involve the Constitutional Court in political combinations. If the current Constitutional Court attempts to exclude the presidency from the process of appointing ministers and juggles again with the law in favor of the ruling coalition, it will discredit itself forever. Any attempt to appoint this candidacy without a presidential decree will be outside the legal framework. Such a “minister” will be illegitimate”, Dodon said.

The government today notified the Constitutional Court on the interpretation of article 98 (6) of the Constitution to clarify the actions that may be taken by the premier and the decisions that can be adopted by parliament if the president refuses the repeated proposal to appoint a minister. The government’s decision is aimed at avoiding an institutional blockade at the Defense Ministry.

The Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) announced last week that Eugen Sturza is nominated by the parliamentary majority for the position of defense minister. PDM leader Vlad Plahotniuc noted that Sturza is the party’s only candidacy and if he is rejected by the president, PDM will propose him repeatedly.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor A. Răileanu)