Jurist Aurel Baiesu was appointed judge of the Constitutional Court by a majority of votes of the factions of the former ruling alliance on April 5. The Communist MPs left the assembly hall, expressing thus their dissatisfaction with the fact that Aurel Baiesu holds Romanian nationality too, IPN reports.

Communist lawmaker Artur Reshetnikov said that five of the six Constitutional Court judges have Romanian nationality besides Moldovan.

Aurel Baiesu confirmed that he has the citizenship of Romania too, but said that the Moldovan legislation does not ban the constitutional judges from having dual nationality. “I will obey the Constitution and will ensure the rule of law in Moldova,” said Baiesu, who was Ambassador to Italy until recently.

The terms in office of two constitutional judges expired at the end of February. Liberal MP Victor Popa was voted in as Constitutional Court judge last week. Now that Baiesu was appointed, the Constitutional Court’ panel is complete.

The two new judges were sworn in at the April 5 sitting of Parliament, in the presence of President Nicolae Timofti.

Two of the six constitutional judges are proposed by the Government, two by Parliament, while another two by the Supreme Council of Magistrates.