Muruianu’s dismissal was unconstitutional, CC

The Parliament’s decision to discharge Ion Muruianu from the post of president of the Supreme Court of Justice was unconstitutional, the Constitutional Court (CC) ruled Tuesday. The constitutionality of the legislative body’s decision of July 5 this year was challenged by Communist lawmakers Serghei Sirbu and Artur Reshetnikov, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The Parliament’s decision to dismiss the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, taken on July 5, 2011, is unconstitutional. The judgment is definitive and comes into force when passed,” acting president of the Constitutional Court Valeria Sterbet said at the end of the meeting. Constitutional judge Alexandru Tanase refused to take part in the examination of the issue, arguing that when Muruianu was discharged he was minister of justice and formed part of the group that demanded that he be dismissed. “I do not want the people to believe that my then actions may affect the decision taken today,” Alexandru Tanase stated. The authors of the application, Sergiu Sarbu and Artur Reshetnikov, said after the meeting that the Court’s decision is a sign that the ruling alliance affords not to obey the supreme law. “The three ruling parties usurped the power and continue to do so. By dismissing Ion Muruianu, the legislature exceeded its power and tried to undermine the authority of the judicial system,” said Sergiu Sirbu. Ion Muruianu was reinstated on September 28 by a decision of the Supreme Court of Justice, but holds the post on an interim basis because his tenure expired and a contest was announced to fill the vacancy.