Former Foreign Minister, Tudor Ulianovschi, is sounding the alarm about the Parliament’s disregard for the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. The diplomat is referring to the misguided approach the Government is taking in setting the date for the elections.

The source cited stated that the deputies are solely guided by the Electoral Code, neglecting the provisions of the Constitution. This creates a dangerous precedent, and the Republic of Moldova risks having two presidents in office come fall.

“As a legal expert who has read the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova multiple times, I believe the date of October 20 for the presidential elections is incorrect. Article 79, paragraph 2 of the Constitution clearly states that a President elected through an electoral vote must assume office within a maximum of 45 days. Article 80 of the Constitution stipulates that the term of the elected president lasts 4 years. And the term of the elected president continues until the day the new president is inaugurated. Mrs. Maia Sandu began her term on December 24. Therefore, if we calculate 45 days from October 20 or the second round day – November 2 – 3, we will see that we reach a maximum date of December 17. This implies that the new President begins his term no later than December 17, while the former President concludes his term on December 24. Are we to understand that we will have two presidents during this period?”, Ulianovschi explained.

The source cited pointed out that considering the provisions of the Constitution, the election day for the second round should not occur earlier than November 10.

“The current ones are also poor at math,” he concluded.

In the same broadcast, Ulianovschi stated that apart from achieving EU candidate status for the Republic of Moldova – a feat accomplished due to geopolitical circumstances – the PAS administration has been setting negative records for years and concealing its governance failures behind the war in the neighboring country. The former Minister expressed his disappointment with the current state of affairs in Moldova, which motivated him to run for the presidency in the upcoming fall elections.

It’s worth noting that Tudor Ulianovschi, during his tenure as Foreign Minister in 2018, managed to persuade the members of the UN General Assembly to adopt, with 64 votes “for” and 15 “against”, the resolution of the Republic of Moldova on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Transnistrian region. In 2020, he was one of the eight candidates for the position of Director General of the World Trade Organization. Tudor Ulianovschi also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Renewable Energy Association, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, and the American Business Association with Central and Eastern European States.