The autumn session of Parliament begins on September 1. The MPs start work on expert commissions and the date of the first plenary sitting of Parliament is to be decided by the Standing Bureau. Contacted by IPN for comments, representatives of the parliamentary groups said the priorities remained mainly the same as during the previous session. Some of the MPs expressed their hope that the legislative work will not be affected by the campaign prior to the presidential elections. Others said they are sure the Parliament’s rostrum will be used for electoral purposes.

The secretary of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party Igor Vremea said the PDM will continue the same social and economic activities and will focus on the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU. They will continue work at the same pace and hope the legislature’s activity will not be affected by the campaign preceding the presidential elections as the MPs have to solve many issues from the legislative agenda, from socioeconomic ones up to those related to the bilateral and multilateral international relations.

Asked if the group will continue work as part of the ruling majority in the current formula, the MP said there is a majority for now and they will work under such a format.

The head of the PPPDA group Alexandru Slusari noted their priorities are mainly similar to those of the previous session. In the social sphere, they aim to gradually raise the pensions to above the minimum subsistence level by a special program that will enable to increase the pensions for two times a year. The MPs of the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” will insist on more protection for doctors and teachers, on the development of infrastructure in localities. At economic level, the group will submit proposals for protecting the national producers, for supporting the small and medium-sized business, especially the farmers this year. Their initiatives will also be aimed at decentralization so that the local public authorities do not beg money from the Government.

Alexandru Slusari believes the election campaign will influence legislative work and many MPs will be involved in campaigning. As a result, owing to the absence of MP from the parliamentary majority, there won’t be enough votes for taking decisions. The Government could be reformed or excluded. In the current political situation, the parliamentary activity will be profoundly marked by the election campaign until November. They yet hope the important initiatives will garner the necessary number of votes for being adopted.

The secretary of the Shor Party’s group Marina Tauber said that during the previous session their group proposed almost 20 bills, but these weren’t even included in the agenda because the parliamentary majority does not want the people to live better. The Shor Party already prepared about 12 legislative proposals and they hope their colleagues will support them. The legislative activity will be now rather formal, as in the recent past. Those from the parliamentary majority in particular will be used as tools for promoting one person – Igor Dodon. The Parliament’s rostrum will be used for nice electoral speeches, but they will struggle for the truth to triumph.

Sergiu Sîrbu, secretary of the Pro Moldova parliamentary group, noted that together with the mates, they will struggle to promote social and economic initiatives so as to support the citizens, especially now that the education process started in conditions of pandemic. They will insist on the introduction of leave for parents who will have to stay at home with the children if online learning is restored, and on the supporting of farmers, raising of salaries of doctors, teachers, etc.

They will harshly penalize any mistake made by the current government that already entered the election campaign. The legislative work in election campaigns often becomes inefficient. But the presidential elections are not parliamentary elections and the legislative body should not stop and should continue work.

The head of the Socialist parliamentary group Corneliu Furculiță was unavailable for comment, while the group’s secretary Vasile Bolea said he will make comments later.

The head of the PAS group Igor Grosu stated that the party will present an official position on the priorities in the autumn parliamentary session in a news conference.

Under the Parliament’s Regulations, the legislative body has two ordinary sessions a year. The autumn session begins in September and cannot last longer than the end of December. The spring session starts in February and lasts by the end of July.