New law on organization of Constitutional Court adopted by Parliament

Parliament has adopted in the final reading a draft law on organization and functioning of the Constitutional Court. The legislative initiative set up by the Ministry of Justice was supported by 55 MPs.

The new law strengthens the legal framework of the highest constitutional jurisdiction authority in the Republic of Moldova, granting it more autonomy and clarity in its operations.

It has been adjusted in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission and introduces important changes, including the regime of incompatibilities and mechanisms for the accountability of constitutional judges.

Among the main provisions are: extending the circle of subjects entitled to address the Constitutional Court; establishing a priori control of the constitutionality of international treaties; introducing a system of disciplinary sanctions, from warning up to the revocation of a constitutional judge's mandate, based on a decision adopted with a two-thirds vote of the Court's members; requiring the renunciation of political party membership before taking the oath by future judges.

Additionally, the law regulates the mechanism for filling a judicial vacancy, depending on the reason for the mandate's termination: resignation, death, expiration or revocation of the mandate.

The new law will come into force upon the publication in the Official Journal.