The lawmakers Thursday passed the Law on the State Flag in first reading. The law stipulates that the Moldovan national flag shall be permanently displayed in the assembly halls of Parliament, the Cabinet, the Constitutional Court, the courts of law, and on buildings of public institutions. The national flag shall also be placed on military buildings, headquarters of political parties, labor union buildings, culture and education establishments, border checkpoints, airports, international train and bus stations, and on ships under Moldovan jurisdiction. Besides flags atop public buildings, public authorities shall display national flags inside the offices of high-ranking officials, inside protocol and festivity halls. The displaying of the national flags will be forbidden on damaged buildings and buildings under extensive repair. The law replaces the old flag rules existing since 1990.