EU Parliament Blasts ‘State Capture’ Of Moldova Courts

The FINANCIAL — BRUSSELS – European lawmakers have expressed serious concern over the “further deterioration” of democratic standards in Moldova, after local courts invalidated the results of the mayoral election in the capital, Chisinau.

“The decision of the courts, which already have been many times cited as politically influenced and driven, is an example of state capture and a very deep crisis of institutions in Moldova,” the European Parliament said in a resolution passed on July 5 by a vote of 343-35, with 160 abstentions.

The move comes a day after the European Union decided to freeze the first tranche of a 100 million euro macrofinancial aid package for Moldova, saying the recent voiding of the Chisinau election violates key preconditions for getting the assistance: respecting democracy and the rule of law.

The EU and the United States support Moldova’s pro-Western government but have strongly criticized the court decisions nullifying the election of Andrei Nastase, an antigraft campaigner and politician, according to RFE/RL.

BRUSSELS – European lawmakers have expressed serious concern over the “further deterioration” of democratic standards in Moldova, after local courts invalidated the results of the mayoral election in the capital, Chisinau.

“The decision of the courts, which already have been many times cited as politically influenced and driven, is an example of state capture and a very deep crisis of institutions in Moldova,” the European Parliament said in a resolution passed on July 5 by a vote of 343-35, with 160 abstentions.

The move comes a day after the European Union decided to freeze the first tranche of a 100 million euro macrofinancial aid package for Moldova, saying the recent voiding of the Chisinau election violates key preconditions for getting the assistance: respecting democracy and the rule of law.

The EU and the United States support Moldova’s pro-Western government but have strongly criticized the court decisions nullifying the election of Andrei Nastase, an antigraft campaigner and politician.