Formuzal seeks ban on National Liberal Party

Mihail Formuzal, the leader of the Regions' Party and also the Governor of the predominantly Turkic-speaking Gagauz autonomy, today submitted a petition to the Ministry of Justice demanding the revocation of the National Liberal Party's registration together with a ban on its “illegal” activity, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We think the activities of this party are illegal and run against the Constitution which proclaims that Moldova is a sovereign and independent, unitary and indivisible state. Furthermore, the platform of this party, being directed at Moldova's union with Romania, contradicts the provisions of the Law on Political Parties which forbid parties to plead in their manifestos against sovereignty and territorial integrity”, said Formuzal in his petition to the Ministry of Justice. Formuzal later told reporters that if the Ministry of Justice failed to react, a negative precedent could emerge for the country. “Soon there might appear parties that would campaign for Moldova's union with, say, Ukraine, Russia, or Turkey”, suggested Mihail Formuzal. National Liberal Party president Vitalia Pavlicenco replied to Mihail Formuzal on her blog: “In Moldova, the so-called 'defenders of statehood' are in fact 'Romania-phobic Moldovenists'. They often declare that they want to join Europe, which also includes Romania by the way, while ignoring the European Convention on Human Rights, which defends political pluralism and freedom of expression, these being fundamental rights and liberties which are recognized in a purportedly democratic society. Sure, the Communists made laws aimed at 'consolidating statehood', which they saw as a defense against the possibility that Moldova might one day want to unify with Romania and break loose from the Kremlin's orbit”. She recalled that in an earlier court decision her party's objective of “reunifying the Romanian people by eliminating the consequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact” was recognized as legal. The Ministry is to issue a formal reply within 30 days.