The current electoral system will be changed, Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu said in a news conference given at the Chisinau airport upon his return from the meeting of the Venice Commission where this pronounced on the proposal, IPN reports.
Andrian Candu said the Moldovan authorities pledged to respect the recommendations of the Venice Commission so as to improve the electoral legislation and no questions appear as to the voting in the diaspora and on the left side of the Nistru and the participation of women in politics is ensured. But the change in the electoral system will take place because this is the will of the majority of people.
“The current electoral system failed. Corruption, permanent political crises and inefficient work in coalitions. This is what the current system gives to us. One of the key reasons for the intention to change the system is the necessity of changing the political class – a fundamental change, of mentality, responsibility, commitments to the people. Such a change can be made by replacing the electoral system,” stated the Speaker.
He noted that last year the citizens of the Republic of Moldova obtained the right to choose the President directly. This year the government wants the people to obtain the right to directly choose the persons who would represent them in Parliament. “The people want the electoral system to be changed and want to have the right to choose the own PM,” said Andrian Candu.
“We are waiting for the written opinion and final text of the Commission so as to officially start work in Parliament through the platform of broad debates, including within the legal commission. Solutions should be identified and the necessary adjustments should be made for the second reading. The law provides that any change in the electoral legislation is made one year before the elections. So, we should make the relevant changes during the current session of Parliament.”
Asked if the relations with the EU could be affected if the electoral system is changed, Andrian Candu said any conditionality from abroad concerning the electoral system would mean interference in the internal political affairs of the Republic of Moldova. But the EU would not resort to this because it has a different view on democracy, were the majority decides.
The Speaker underlined that changing the electoral system was a promise made to the people who voted for the Democratic Party in 2009.
During its plenary session on June 16, the Venice Commission adopted opinions that critically assess the draft law for Moldova’s electoral system for the election of Parliament and a proposal to expand presidential powers. Following extensive public consultations with all relevant stakeholders, the joint opinion concluded that the proposed reform cannot be considered as having been adopted by broad consensus. It raises “significant concerns” including the risk that constituency members of parliament would be vulnerable to being influenced by business interests. Furthermore, according to the joint opinion, “the responsibility vested with the Central Election Commission to establish single-mandate constituencies for the majoritarian component is based on vague criteria that pose a risk of political influence.
