The parliamentary system as a system of government offers the best chances for ensuring democratic accomplishments in the Republic of Moldova. It also ensures best of all constitutional and political stability. These are some of the conclusions of the study “Importance of strengthening the parliamentary system in the Republic of Moldova. Lessons from the bankruptcy of the semi-presidential systems” that was carried out by the Resource Center for Human Rights (CReDO) and presented in a news conference at IPN.
According to the CReDO director Sergiu Ostaf, on the one hand, the parliamentary system avoids and prevents important clashes between the branches of power. On the other hand, it excludes the possibility of exploiting differences in the functioning of public institutions. “The parliamentary system offers the best chances of ensuring not only political stability, but also the Government’s long life and of creating appropriate conditions for promoting reforms,” he stated.
According to him, studies reveal a clear connection between the executive’s stability and the economic growth. “Over the last three years, we had an unstable Government. In the period, the economic growth was lower than in the periods when we had a stable Cabinet,” said Sergiu Ostaf.
The study says that to ensure the proper functioning of the parliamentary system of government, it is important to ensure the presence and functioning of united, equitable, responsible and integral parties.
The study authors said a neutral President does not have the same powers as the Prime Minister. The head of state has the important tasks of facilitating and moderating the communication between the public institutions and of removing the obstacles hindering it. “The last important conclusion is that the executive and political posts must be held by the leaders of the parties. The experience of the countries in transition shows that only if the persons who obtained the political mandate hold the key executive and political posts can the parties fulfill their promises and be penalized for lack of responsible behavior,” said the CReDO director.
According to the CReDO projects coordinator Olga Batca, who heads the Anticorruption Alliance, the role of the Prime Minister is that of a leader in ensuring economic reforms. “This can be a reformist when there is a correct balance between the three powers even if the regime remains a parliamentary one. We should lay emphasis on the Premier’s figure,” she stated.
The authors of the study formulated a series of recommendations based on the obtained results. According to them, the parliamentary system of government in Moldova should be strengthened and the powers of the President should be reduced by constitution regulations. The political parties should be consolidated, while the candidate for the post of President should be an apolitical person. The party leaders should be promoted to premiership, while the formation of stable parliamentary alliances should be facilitated.
The study was conducted with the support of the Rule of Law Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
