The Government on Wednesday, August 6, shot down the legislative initiative of MP Vlad Filat, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, to issue free of charge identity cards to the persons who have reached 16, the age at which Moldovans are required by law to have one. The explanatory note attached to the initiative submitted for consideration argues that a limited number of categories currently enjoy facilitation when applying for identity documents. A large number of Moldovan citizens do not hold any. To stimulate this process among the population, Vlad Filat suggested that first-time applicants should be exempted from the application fee. The MP considers that the sum of 125 lei (the fee for applying for an identity card) is considerable for a person who doesn't earn his own money yet. The Government argued that the proposal contradicted the Law on Social Assistance of December 2007, which changes the modalities of social assistance (depending on incomes). “Not for all the persons aged 16 the payment of 125 lei is an impediment in obtaining an identity card. At the same time, the acceptance of this proposal would entail extra government expenses, which are not provided for”, the rejection note reads.