The Court referred, in its decision, to its own past case law (a decision of 2002) in which it had concluded that, by withdrawing the provision enabling removal of mayors by local popular vote, one of the citizens’ rights had been restricted, without the restriction being justified in the Moldovan Constitution. The Court had pointed out in the 2002 decision to the citizens' right to revoke an elected official for failing to respond to the interests of the collectivity, right based on: the principle of direct exercise of sovereignty by the people; the right to administration, i.e. to participate in the administration of public affairs directly; the principle of citizens’ direct consultation on local issues, all constitutionally protected principles.