Activity of the Parliament on February 1–14, 2011

Events of major importance

Unannounced visit to Moscow

On February 7, Marian Lupu, Speaker of Moldovan Parliament, paid a working visit to Moscow, where he had a short meeting with Boris Gryzlov, Speaker of Russian State Duma. Official information about these discussions and their results were not disseminated, and upon return to Moldova the Speaker told that discussions were constructive and tackled various aspects, including the stirring up of inter-parliamentary dialogue.

Parliamentary session began with protests by opposition

On the first day of Parliamentary session on February 10, 2011, a group of supporters of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) have protested in front of the Republican Palace, where the parliamentary sittings are held. The protests were also attended by the PCRM MPs. The main problem addressed by the protesters was the intention to ban the communist symbols, which would have materialized in a draft decision positively agreed upon by parliamentary committees. Within the speeches, those intentions have been qualified as discriminatory and dictatorial.

Appointments. Dismissals

Parliament took note of the resignation of 12 MPs, who mostly are members of the Government invested on January 14, 2011.

By decision of Parliament the new composition of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) was confirmed, which included the representatives of the interim President and of parliamentary parties, as follows:

Andrei Volentir (nominated by interim President);
Iurie Ciocan (nominated by PLDM);
Vasile Gafton (PLDM);
Stefan Creanga (PLDM);
Stefan Uritu (PL);
Svetlana Gutu (PDM);
Vadim Motarschi (PCRM);
Igor Vremea (PCRM);
Alexandru Simionov (PCRM).

The persons appointed to CEC have to suspend their political affiliation (membership).

Legislative acts

Decision to amend the Parliamentary Decision on holidays and free days. It introduces a new day of remembrance — “Day to Remember the soldiers who died in the war in Afghanistan (February 15)”. The decision was motivated by address from the Union of Afghan War Veterans and is based on the fact that on 1 February 15, 1989 the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan has completed.

Law amending the Law on Identity Documents within the national passport system. According to the amendments, until December 31, 2011 citizens living abroad will be issued passports that do not contain biometric data, based on applications filed with diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Moldova.

Law on ratification of the Financing Agreement between Republic of Moldova and European Investment Bank. Funding is contracted for a Drinking Water Supply Services Development Program, which provides for building rural aqueducts in six districts: Floresti, Soroca, Hincesti, Ciadir-Lunga, Orhei and Leova. The contracted amount is 30 million euros, of which 20 millions are provided as grant. The repayment term is 25 years with a grace period of five years and an interest rate of 0.1 percent annually.

Law on amending certain laws (on Parliament’s functioning and structure). The adopted document provides for amending the Parliamentary Rules of Procedures, the legislation on civil service and public service, in order to regulate the activity of the Parliamentary Secretariat and the relevant competences. This document also provides for introduction of the “MP assistant”. The draft was voted only by parliamentary majority, and the opposition assessed these introduced innovations as a burden for the budget.

ADEPT Note: The experts noted that the provisions on MP assistants were not sufficiently grounded and prepared, and, at the same time, the criteria were not approved for those who potentially shall hold those positions: • status within public service (public position or assimilated one to the position of dignitary’s cabinet); • workers’ rights and duties; • selection criteria (examination, competition); • compliance requirements (criminal record, higher education, absence of prohibitions); • avoidance of the conflicts of interests (employment of relatives), etc.

Statements

PCRM faction reads out some statements on:

Constitutional Court decision on the notification for interpretation of the provisions of Article 90 of Moldovan Constitution. The statement condemns that decision and evasion from responding about the timeline for presidential elections. The Constitutional Court is accused of “political commitment, venality and political corruption” and calls for its resignation en masse;
intention to condemn and prohibit the communist symbols “hammer and sickle”, accusing in this regard the actions of the Democratic Party.

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