The phrase “Moldovan language” will be replaced with “Romanian language” in the texts of all Moldovan laws and regulations, including the Moldovan Constitution. The relevant law “On the implementation of certain decisions of the Constitutional Court (CC)” was adopted Thursday in its second and final reading by the Moldovan Parliament.
The authors refer to three rulings of the CC, including one from December 5, 2013. Given that “acts of the CC, which interpret constitutional texts, have the force of law and are binding,” the authors propose to replace “Moldovan language” with “Romanian language” in the text of the laws.
“In order to implement this law, the Legal Information Resources Agency shall, within 30 days from the date of enactment of this law, ensure the amendment of all legislation of the Republic of Moldova, including the Constitution, in the State Register of Legal Acts,” the document reads.
The law was voted for by deputies from the parliamentary majority of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), as well as independent deputy Gaic Vartanyan, who left the Socialist Party and joined the National Alternative Movement (MAN) headed by Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban.
The bill drew criticism from the opposition Bloc of Communists and Socialists. Deputies of the BCS hung several banners on their rostrum during the voting in Parliament. Earlier they said that they would appeal to the Constitutional Court to challenge the law if it is adopted.
According to the Constitution, amendments to the Main Law may be approved by “two-thirds of votes of deputies” “not earlier than six months after the registration of the corresponding draft law and only with a positive conclusion of the CC.” Also, according to the Constitution, “the Constitution can not be reviewed during a state of emergency, siege and martial law.
In turn, the authors of the bill, represented by a group of PAS deputies, believe that it is a “technical execution” of the decisions of the Constitutional Court, and not an amendment to the Constitution.
Till now, according to article 13 of the Constitution of Moldova, the state language of the Republic of Moldova is “the Moldovan language functioning on the basis of Latin script”. Meanwhile, the Academy of Sciences of Moldova admitted that the correct name of the language is “Romanian”. Romanian language is taught in all schools and educational institutions of Moldova since 1992.
