The reduction in the election threshold to 5% and in the voter turnout for validating the elections to 1/3 is criticized by the parliamentary Opposition. The major parliamentary group of the PCRM says yet that the introduced amendments will stimulate the voters to take part in elections, giving simultaneously more parties the chance of entering the Parliament, Info-Prim Neo reports. “This simple initiative at first sight throws another smoke cloud into the eyes of those that monitor the situation in Moldova,” said Vlad Filat, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. “We consider that the election threshold should stand at 4%. What kind of Parliament will Moldova have have if only 1/3 of the voters take part in elections? The approach is simplistic and does not solve the current problems,” Filat sad. Serafim Urecheanu, leader of Moldova Noastra Alliance, said that they are not concerned about the election threshold as the AMN will pass it. “These changes were made at Voronin’s and Rosca’s will. It is good that the election threshold was reduced as more parties could enter the Parliament and it would be more entertaining and more democratic,” Urecheanu said. “On the other hand, this way the PCRM offers chances to its ‘satellites’ that will give them their votes later.” Speaking about the voter turnout decreased to 1/3, the AMN said that this is discrimination of the country and its future. Mihai Ghimpu, president of the Liberal Party, said that the low election threshold is a European practice, but it would not save those that did not enter the Parliament after the April 5 elections. Moreover, the amendments to the Election Code passed by the PCRM in first reading on June 12 provide for the exclusion of the required voter turnout in case of rerun elections. Outgoing President Vladimir Voronin said he would announce the date of the elections next week. The next sitting of the 17th Parliament will take place on June 15.