Parliament passed amendments to the Electoral Code upon second reading on Friday, June 18. Under the amendments, political parties will have to muster at least 4 percent of the popular vote to enter Parliament; the threshold for blocs consisting of two parties is 7 percent and for blocs consisting of three or more parties is 9 percent; independent candidates will have to clear a 2-percent threshold, Info-Prim Neo reports. The modified Code provides for a lower turnout required for a parliamentary poll or a referendum to be declared valid – one third of the eligible voters. The required turnout in the case of local elections is even lower – one fourth, and there is no turnout requirementat all in the case of rerun elections. Overseas polling stations will be opened at Moldova's diplomatic missions and in any other locations agreed by the relevant authorities of the given host country. However the lawmakers scrapped the initial proposal to allow overseas polls to last two days. The Code outlaws foreign sponsorship. In the event the candidates make use of such funds knowingly, they will face removal from the race. The deputy prime ministers as well as ex-officio Cabinet members who are participating in the race are required to temporarily step aside during the campaign. The President, the Prime Minister and the Parliament Speaker are excused from this obligation. Rules also changed concerning the appointment of members to the Central Election Commission – one member will be appointed by the president and 8 others will be appointed by Parliament, with fair party representation respected. If the 5-year-mandate term of a CEC member is due to expire during the electoral period, it will be automatically extended by 90 days until other members are appointed. The amendments to the Election Code passed second reading with the vote of 52 MPs, after at least two rounds of negotiations between the four member parties of the ruling Alliance for European Integration. The deputies representing Moldova Unita party abstained.