Moldova commemorated its first “Day of Soviet Occupation” on Monday after acting President Mihai Ghimpu refused to cancel a decree establishing the holiday despite pressure from the Communist opposition in the parliament, Interfax reported.
Ghimpu’s decision was also criticized by his partners in the ruling coalition, Alliance for European Integration, but they had no power to cancel the presidential decree, which can only be done by the Constitutional Court.
The Communist Party has challenged the decree in court — and demanded Ghimpu’s removal — but no date for the hearing was set Monday.
Ghimpu said the new national mourning day commemorates the annexation of Moldova by the Soviet Union in 1940.
(MT)
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