President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio explained again what the institution he heads meant when it issued its critical opinion on the electoral system change in the Republic of Moldova. According to the portal report.md, which is quoted by IPN, in an interview for frontnews.eu Gianni Buquicchio specified that the main recommendation of the Venice Commission was that the current electoral system should be preserved in Moldova.
The Venice Commission warned that constituency members of parliament would be vulnerable to being influenced by business interests. “It is not for the first time that the authorities of the Republic of Moldova decide to change the electoral system. An attempt was also made in 2013. They wanted to switch over from the proportional system to the mixed one. At that time they also asked for our opinion and we recommended not changing the system. They listened to us then. We now see a new attempt to return to that decision and the fears on which our recommendations are based are the same. Ultimately, the decision to change the electoral system or not is the sovereign right of the state,” said Gianni Buquicchio.
While in Brussels, Prime Minister Pavel Filip was warned by the President of the European Council Donald Tusk to exactly follow the recommendations of the Venice Commission. For his part, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said the macro-financial assistance for Moldova depends on the authorities’ decision concerning the electoral system change. “We expect Moldova to fully follow the Venice Commission’s recommendation. The replacement of the electoral system in the current political context of the Republic of Moldova endangers democracy in the country,” stated Johannes Hahn, quoted by report.md.
Pavel Filip told Johannes Hahn that the EU should not relate the provision of the €100 million in financial assistance to the possibility of replacing the electoral system as the Government will be thus helped to continue the initiated reforms.
Romanian MEP Cristian Preda on TVR Moldova channel said the Republic of Moldova will not benefit from financing from the EU if it does not give up replacing the electoral system and does not follow the recommendations of the Venice Commission. ”We are ready to help the Republic of Moldova, but not to support a regime that changes the electoral systems in order to remain in power. In the Republic of Moldova, they do not understand this. We cannot seek money from European citizens for the political adventures in Chisinau,” said Cristian Preda. “Withdrawing the bill to introduce the mixed-member electoral system would be a wise decision by the government of Moldova.” The MEP noted he transmitted this message to the leader of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc in a meeting in Brussels.
On the other hand, Speaker of Parliament Adrian Candu said the electoral system will be changed. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Candu said not all the recommendations of the Venice Commission will be implemented, but most of these will be taken into account.
