The Socialists’ legislative proposal to amend and supplement the Code of Audiovisual Media Services was adopted after being given a final reading on December 16. One of the proposed changes refers to the transmission of news, feature, military and political radio and TV programs, IPN reports.

Currently, the Code of Audiovisual Media Services allows the providers and distributors of media services to broadcast news, feature, military and political radio and TV programs produced in the EU members states, the U.S. and Canada and in the states that ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.

The adopted bill stipulates that the providers and distributors of media services have the right to transmit military radio and TV programs produced locally or bought from third countries that meet the provisions of the information security concept and strategy of the Republic of Moldova.

When the bill was put to the vote, the MPs of the PAS, PPPDA, PDM and Pro Moldova weren’t present in the assembly hall. Towards the end of the sitting, the opposition MPs returned to the hall, expressing their indignation at the fact that they weren’t invited to the sitting that started after 10pm and that bills that were to be debated on December 17 were put on the agenda of that sitting. The Socialist MPs argued they acted so in order to avoid interminable discussions on important laws. The sitting ended after 11pm.