Head of Parliament Andrian Candu, after the May 26 meeting of the Standing Bureau, announced that he will send the bill to amend the Broadcasting Code to the Venice Commission and the Council of Europe for appraisal, IPN reports.

The initiative was put forward as a result of heated discussions about the proposed changes in society. Andrian Candu said he will ask the international experts to pronounce on the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. Parliament will return to this bill only after national debates are held and after the results of the international appraisal are available.

“We are close to the limit of violation of the right to expression, the right to opinion and the freedom of the media. There are famous international organizations that every time give us grades and include us in rankings. In the recent past we had been at the end of these rankings. Freedom House and others should also tell us how good this bill is,” stated Andrian Candu.

Asked by journalists about the initiative of Balti Communist councilors to hold a referendum on local autonomy on November 1, Andrian Candu said it is an illegal decision and asked the State Chancellery and the competent bodies to challenge it. The Speaker also called on the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Security and Intelligence Service to intervene, noting that the legislation has enough provisions aimed at protecting the state interests from such intentions. According to him, the developments in Balti are dangerous and the state authorities should not remain indifferent.