After debating the amendments proposed to the Parliament’s Regulations for almost three hours, the MPs were unable to put them to the vote. The sitting was interrupted as some of the lawmakers left the assembly hall and the quorum was not present, IPN reports.

The Communist MPs accused the government of wanting to intimidate them by imposing bans and penalties. The fact that the lawmakers will be banned from bringing loudspeakers at the legislature’s sittings aroused controversy. The blocking of the Parliament’s rostrum and of access to the assembly hall will also be banned. The authors of the bill proposed that the lawmakers who will violate these provisions should be obliged to leave the hall under the escort of the Parliament’s Special Service.

Communist MP Eduard Musuc said the lawmakers from the Communist faction will not obey these changes. The Liberals headed by Mihai Ghimpu also had objections. Valeriu Munteanu said it’s not right to limit the length of speeches to seven minutes for parliamentary groups and to five minutes for MPs as this will affect the quality of the legal acts.

The legislative body will return to the bill in the next sitting.