Moldova: 'Heart of Moldova' party case referred to Constitutional Court
The fate of the "Heart of Moldova" party, led by Irina Vlah, will be decided by the country's Constitutional Court, not the Central Court of Appeal.
The court suspended its hearing of a request from the Ministry of Justice to restrict the party's activities. This follows a request from the party’s lawyers for a constitutional review of parts of the Law on Political Parties.
Representatives from the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and the Ministry of Justice attended the hearing but declined to comment. A spokesperson for the "Heart of Moldova" party, however, said the CEC's decision to sanction the group was unfounded and politically motivated.
A party representative, Fadei Nagacevschi, said: "This is an abusive attempt to exclude the Heart of Moldova party and its candidates from the race, which could also impact the 'Patriotic' bloc. The political battle should be waged at the ballot box, not in court. The party is not an electoral entity; it is clear enough for any legal professional that the political bloc is the electoral entity."
The party's representatives requested the constitutional review, which the magistrates granted. As a result, the case is suspended until the Constitutional Court issues its ruling. The Ministry of Justice had submitted a request to the Central Court of Appeal on 19 September to limit the party's activities, following a warning issued to the 'Patriotic' Bloc by the CEC over alleged illegal financing by the "Heart of Moldova" party.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
