Dissenting opinions were stated about the amendments to the Broadcasting Code adopted by Parliament. Democratic MPs consider the law is very important for the information security of the Republic of Moldova and should have been passed long ago, while Socialist MPs believe the adoption of this law could cause a diplomatic scandal. The issue was developed in the talk show “Moldova live” on the public TV channel Moldova 1, IPN reports.
Democratic MP Corneliu Mihalache said Parliament took an important step when it adopted the law that secures the information space of the Republic of Moldova. “I think such bills should be voted firmly, without delays and without leaving room for interpretations and ambiguities. We have already hesitated over this problem and took one step forward and two steps backward. This time we were firm and adopted a very important law that strengthens our statehood,” he stated.
Socialist MP Vlad Batrincea said he expects a diplomatic scandal will follow the adoption of the amendments to the Broadcasting Code because the law bans the broadcasting of news and analytical programs produced in countries that didn’t sign the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. “We will have problems with a number of states. The goal was to struggle against the Russian Federation, but a number of partners were struck as a result, including from Europe. Sweden also didn’t ratify this Convention,” said the MP, noting that Moldova will face very clear legal consequences. Furthermore, it’s not known how this law works.
Political analyst Oazu Nantoi said this law does not place clear emphases. “If they had asked me, I would have said that the retransmission of analytical and news programs broadcast by countries that illegally keep troops on Moldova’s territory should be banned,” he stated.
Dragos Vicol, chairman of the Broadcasting Coordination Council, said that before the coming into force of the law, the Council should find a method for putting it into practice without affecting people’s interests. “The beneficiaries of audiovisual services should be able to choose any channel they want. I’m convinced that no channel from Russia or any other state will be banned. I’m for not banning anything,” he stated.
The bill to amend the Broadcasting Code proposed by the MPs of the Democratic Party and the European People’s Party of Moldova was adopted by Parliament in two readings by the votes of 61 MPs of 101 on December 7.
