Constitutional Court rejects Communist request

The Constitutional Court has rejected a request by a group of Communist MPs who challenged the constitutionality of a Government decision that requires consumers disconnected from the centralized heat supply system to pay a fee equal to 20% of the heat tariff starting from 2013. Currently the charge is set at 10% and when the next heating season starts it will grow to 15%. The Constitutional Court held that the issue falls outside of its subject-matter jurisdiction and should rather be examined by a court of general jurisdiction, it said in a press release. The Court's decision is irreversible. The request was filed with the Court on October 18 by the Communist deputies Sergiu Sirbu, Maria Postoico and Vladimir Vitiuc.