PAS Initiative: Supreme Security Council May Become an Executive Body

The Supreme Security Council (SSC), chaired by President Maia Sandu, will be given the status of “central coordination and decision-making body in the national security field”. Moreover, it could have executive powers instead of the advisory functions it currently has. Non-implementation of the SSC decisions may entail punitive sanctions, noi.md reports with reference to agora.md. These are some of the provisions of the draft law on national security prepared by PAS deputy Lilian Carp. The draft will be submitted for public discussion. Currently, the SSC is an advisory and consultative body that reviews the activities of ministries and other central government bodies in the field of national security and defense. If Carp’s initiative is approved by parliament, the SSC will acquire “executive and supervisory powers over public authorities and institutions responsible and/or involved in ensuring national security”. Certain provisions of the bill: The Supreme Security Council is the central coordinating and decision-making body in the field of national security, established by the President of the Republic of Moldova, with executive and supervisory powers over public authorities and institutions responsible and/or involved in ensuring national security. In addition, adoption of this bill could give the SSC leverage over government agencies, and its decisions would become binding. “The Council shall serve as the central body in the national security field and its decisions shall be binding on all state institutions and authorities,” Article 15 (2) of the new draft law reads. One of the new provisions deals with criminal liability for non-compliance with the provisions of the SSC. “Failure or obstruction to enforce the Council’s decisions is an offence and is punishable under Article 3523 of Penal Code No. 985/2002,” the bill reads. Under the new bill, the SSC will be able to require government agencies and the private sector to take additional measures to protect national security, including in areas such as justice, the economy, energy, finance and critical infrastructure. It should be clarified that the information note states that the activities of the SSC, in the wording proposed by the authors of the draft law, will be carried out “in accordance with the Constitution and legislation”.