Activity of the Parliament on September 16–30, 2008

Appointments. Dismissals

The Parliament has declared the parliamentary seat of Mrs. Adriana Chiriac, elected on behalf of the Christian Democratic People’s Party, vacant. Mrs. Chiriac tendered her resignation after getting a job in Romania that is incompatible with the parliamentary seat.

Legislative acts

Law on completion of the Law on enactment of Titles I and II of the Fiscal Code. The document says that taxpayers which provide and/or renovate free of charge the people’s real estate deteriorated after the July-August 2008 floods will not be applied the Fiscal Code regulations on income taxes and will be allowed to deduct the spending for renovation and/or providing of the concerned estate. Also, the pecuniary damages paid to individuals for the July-August 2008 natural disasters are not regarded as taxable revenues and are not included in the gross revenue.

Law on completion of Article 4 of the law on state tax. Under modifications, individuals and legal entities are exempted from state tax for the authentication of contracts signed to compensate damages suffered after the July-August 2008 floods.

Law on modification of some legislative acts (Law on sale of goods, Law on commodity exchanges, Law on entrepreneurial cooperatives). The document was promoted to ensure the implementation of the new laws on arbitrage and commercial arbitrage, replacing the old notions with updated regulations in the field.

Law on completion and modification of some legislative acts. It brings amendments to the Code on Administrative Contraventions and Criminal Code with the purpose to improve and consolidate the national legislation against trafficking in human beings and adjust it to European standards. In particular, Article 170/1 concerning the “Organisation of beggary” was removed, and now these deeds fall under the incidence of Article 302 of the Criminal Code concerning the “Initiation and organisation of beggary”. In order to decriminize the Criminal Code and optimise the punitive policy, the regulations on trafficking in human beings were updated.

Laws on ratification of some international acts:

The Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, adopted in Faro on October 27, 2005;
The Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and Slovakia on the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, signed in Chisinau on April 7, 2008;
The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on the 2006 financial cooperation, signed in Chisinau on April 17, 2008;

Decision on completion of the Parliament Decision approving the list of the National Army assets on sale. The list is completed with several aircraft of the National Army (AN-72 and AN-26), various pieces and munitions.

Parliamentary control. Statements

Hearings

The Parliament has heard reports concerning:

The remedying of consequences of the last summer natural disasters;
The remuneration in the budgetary system;
The situation on the monetary and foreign exchange markets.

Questions. Interpellations

The parliamentary majority including the Chairman of the Parliament have left the sitting hall at the first session of questions and interpellations.

Veaceslav Untila, a parliamentarian representing the Moldova Noastra (Our Moldova) Alliance, has asked the Government to provide information about accumulations to the state budget from the service of 215 ships floating under Moldova’s flag.

Vladimir Filat, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PNL), has asked information about the use of the Government reserve fund worth 180 million lei.

Vitalia Pavlicenco, Chairwoman of the National Liberal Party, has asked the Interior Minister to collect facts concerning the case of motorist Nicolae Stamati who was allegedly imposed to bribe policemen.

Statements

Parliament Chairman Marian Lupu has briefed journalists at the beginning of the autumn-winter session as regards:

The possible debating of a new amendment to the electoral legislation (concerning the electoral threshold, ban on electoral blocs). However, prospects of amendments in the area were not concretised;
Expressing optimism that the forthcoming elections will not affect the working climate in the Parliament;
The key documents of the session will be: the 2009 State Budget Law, the Law on state social insurance budget, and the Law on mandatory health insurance fund;
The Parliament will pay a special attention to the adjustment of national legislation to European standards; cooperation within various international organisations; bilateral parliamentary cooperation; cooperation with civil society; parliamentary control.

Leaders of parliamentary factions have delivered speeches regarding visions on the ongoing session:

The parliamentary faction representing the Moldova Noastra (Our Moldova) Alliance (AMN) has accused the Government over situation on foreign exchange market, sought the abrogation of amendments which allegedly undermine the democracy (the Electoral Code, restrictions related to dual citizenship), demanded the resumption of live broadcasting of parliamentary meetings at the national television channel and the deferral of the National Wine Holiday, as vine growers are in a hopeless situation;
The parliamentary faction of the Christian Democratic People’s Party (PPCD) has urged the state leadership to be more cautious towards Russia’s recommendations on settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, as developments in Georgia proved that Russia is an aggressor and Moldova should be very careful over any proposal by this country. The PPCD asked the Government to keep remedying consequences of floods and called upon parliamentarians to be more responsible while voting the National Security Strategy, as the Law on national security concept is imperfect and the strategy should be better. The PPCD has assured that it wants to contribute to the affirmation of Moldova as a successful state;
The faction of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) has accused the Government of abusively hiding negotiations on the Transnistrian issue, demanded that parliamentarians be informed and involved in drafting the negotiation documents. It considers that the future legislature will be a coalition and proposes not to control small and medium-sized enterprises for a three-year term;
The faction of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) has invited opposition deputies to cooperate, to give up groundless criticism and support the parliamentary majority to adopt laws.

Deputy Vitalia Pavlicenco has presented a PNL statement to the Parliament, which condemns Russia for having recognised the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and reiterates the necessity to build the inter-state union Romania-Republic of Moldova as the unique project able to bring Moldova closer to the European Union.

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