Activity of the Parliament on November 16–30, 2009

Appointments. Dismissals

Four legal professors, Vasile Cretu, Alexandru Arsene, Igor Dolea and Boris Negru, were appointed members of the Superior Council of Magistracy.

The nominal composition of the Moldovan Parliament’s delegation to the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States was approved.

Victor Ciubotaru was relieved from the office of first deputy chairman of the National Bank of Moldova upon his request.

Legislative acts

Law on ratification, accession to international agreements:

The Moldova-Portugal Agreement concerning cooperation in the tourism sector;
The International Commission on Civil Status Convention 20 on the issue of a certificate of legal capacity to marry;
The International Labour Organisation Promotional Framework No. 187 concerning the occupational safety and health;
The protocol concerning the introduction of changes in the agreement on exemption of customs duties, taxes and issue of special permits to carry normative documents, labels, measuring means, label samples transported for metrological checking and attestation.

Decision approving the budget of the National Commission of Financial Market for 2010. The budget will be made of incomes worth 10.1 million lei, expenses worth 13.6 million lei, and a deficit of 3.5 million lei, covered from the balance account for January 1, 2010.

Draft law concerning the modification and completion of some legislative acts (concerning the notary system). It recommends the dissolution of the institution of state attorneys, saying that it runs counter principles of Latin notary and produces inefficient public expenses, as well as possible damages for the state. State notaries will be able to turn into public notaries upon own demand.

Note by ADEPT: The PCRM faction has criticised the draft, invoking the necessity of ensuring access of rural population to accessible-price notary services, and eventual expenses related to imminent reorganisations.

Draft law for ratification of the state budget for 2009. According to updated macroeconomic forecasts, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will account for 59.5 billion lei in 2009, which is by 9 percent less than in 2008, though the Government has previously planned a 6-percent growth. As of October 31, 2009, the national public budget deficit amounted to 2.8 billion lei, compared with the expected annual deficit of 574 million lei. Given the results of execution of the national public budget in the first ten months and forecasted macroeconomic indicators for 2009, the national public budget for 2009 is estimated at incomes worth about 22.5 billion lei, expenses in the amount of about 27.8 billion lei and a deficit worth about 5.3 billion lei, which will count for approximately 9 percent of GDP at the end of the year. Following rises and reductions of spending, the state budget expenses are by 560 million lei or 3.1 percent lower than planned for the 2009 budget. Expenses on basic component decrease by 350 million lei, projects funded from external sources by 529 million lei, expenses of special means and funds increase by 352.48 million lei. The state debt balance will amount to 16,605,000,000 lei on December 31, 2009. The deficit will be funded from internal sources such as issue of state securities worth 1,600,000,000 lei and external sources worth 3,730,000,000 lei overall.

Draft law for completion of some legislative acts (concerning the execution system). It aims to optimise the system of execution of judicial decisions by providing a free access to state registers needed for the execution of forced execution measures.

Draft law for modification of the Article 54 of the Contravention Code. It aims to remove from the Code the expulsion penalty for violation of legislation on religious denominations. The initiative is related to the ECHR practice (case of Bessarabian Metropolitan Church and Others vs. Moldova).

Parliamentary control. Statements

Hearings

Minister of foreign affairs and European integration has notified parliamentarians that the Republic of Moldova refrains from voting the United Nations Resolution condemning the neo-Nazi manifestations. According to minister, the decision to refrain from voting this resolution was made by Government in 2005 and reconfirmed in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and therefore, PCRM should know the reasons and arguments. The refrain vote was related to the misbalance in the final text which does not cover enough the editing proposals raised by some delegations and concerns with the fair approach of racial practices, and it does not have any connection with the proper description of neo-Nazi movements.

Questions. Interpellations

PCRM Deputy Svetlana Rusu has asked explanations to the statement by health minister that he will dismiss all communists from the Health Ministry.

PCRM parliamentarian Igor Vremea has demanded information regarding the measures taken in connection with the November 7 conflict in Cahul district, which involved the Special Unit Fulger.

PL legislator Valeriu Munteanu has asked details regarding allegations that former governmental officials embezzled large amounts of money to buy residences for themselves.

PL parliamentarian Gheorghe Brega has demanded information in connection with violations in management of funds by the National Health Insurance Company assessed by the Chamber of Auditors.

PLDM legislator Angel Agache sought details about actions taken by authorities in connection with the libellous contestation of the PLDM registration, lists of heard citizens and legal organs which heard them.

Statements

The PCRM has read a statement disagreeing with plans to revise the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova and electoral legislation.

PL Deputy Mihai Ghimpu has presented a statement on mafia schemes in imports of meat, fish and other products.

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