Moldova Court Suspends Gagauzia Tax Law Amendments
The Constitutional Court has suspended amendments to the Tax Code. The suspension is in effect until March 5.
The amendments would have reimbursed VAT (value added tax) to businesses in the autonomous region of Gagauzia from its own budget, rather than the national budget. The decision follows complaints filed with the Court by Gagauzia's legislature and opposition lawmakers.
Today, protestors from Gagauzia gathered outside the Constitutional Court demanding the amendments be declared unconstitutional. A counter-protest with pro-unification messages also took place nearby.
The law amending the Tax Code was passed by Moldova's Parliament in October 2023. Lawmakers supporting the change argued it would ensure tax fairness across the country. However, officials in Comrat (Gagauzia's capital) criticised the decision, stating it reduces income to the local budget.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
