Most of the political parties that stated their position on the initiative of the Democratic Party (PDM) to replace the electoral system are against the introduction of the uninominal voting system, IPN reports.
AGAINST:
In a press release, the Party of Socialists (PSRM) said the election of MPs by uninominal constituencies will lead to the institution of full control over Parliament by the current regime. Besides advantages, the system of dismissing MPs has also drawbacks as any MP who would become inconvenient to the government could be deprived of seat.
Mihai Ghimpu, chairman of the Liberal Party (PL), said the people do not need uninominal constituencies through which such persons as the mayor of Orhei Ilan Shor would enter Parliament. The Republic of Moldova chose the current electoral system based on the unitary interest of the state and owing to the conflict on the left bank of the Nistru. The replacement of the party-list proportional representation system by the uninominal voting system will create difficulties to the people who live on the left bank of the Nistru.
The Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), Party “Action and Solidarity” (PAS) and Political Party “Platform Dignity and Truth” announced their common position in a news conference held before the PDM presented its proposal. In a statement, the leaders of the three parties say the intention to replace the electoral system is designed to maintain the PDM in power at all costs. According to them, if a uninominal voting system is introduced, it will be easier for the Democratic Party to obtain a parliamentary majority by fraud, corruption and blackmailing. PAS leader Maia Sandu gave a news conference after the Democratic Party launched its initiative, saying the chairman of the PDM Vlad Plahotniuc wants to keep power at the cost of people’s freedom and welfare.
The leader of “Our Party” Renato Usatyi called on the opposition parties to combine forces. “They must do everything possible to defend democracy and this means that they must prevent Plahotniuc from fulfilling his plans by illegal methods,” Renato Usatyi says in a posting.
FOR:
In a news conference, the leaders of the Green Ecologist Party pleaded for changing the electoral system for a uninominal voting one. The party’s chairman Anatolie Prohnitski said their party has insisted on the replacement of the electoral system since 2009, while the introduction of the uninominal voting system is not related to the wish of a party leader, but represents the people’s wish.
NEITHER FOR, NOR AGAINST:
The Party of Communists (PCRM) hasn’t announced its position, but MP Oleg Reidman told the press that such proposals should be very well and long discussed in society. Such reforms are not done at the request of the PDM or Vlad Plahotniuc. The fact that the people do not know their MPs is a demagogical argument.
The Liberal Reformist Party in a press release says that any reform initiative, including the one concerning the electoral system, should be based on the priorities of the state. The hasty reformation of the system, especially in a year that precedes an electoral year, is not among the real priorities of the Republic of Moldova. The party does not yet reject any proposal aimed at changing the state of affairs in the Republic of Moldova, including those that refer to the electoral system or the political class. But such bills with a major impact on society should be broadly discussed first.
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On March 6, the president of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc presented an initiative aimed at replacing the party-list proportional representation system with the uninominal voting system. He argued the people will be able to choose persons they know as MPs, as they choose their mayors, and to withdraw before time the MPs who do not fulfill their duties. Also, the Moldovans from the diaspora will elect their own MPs.
The Election Code is amended by at least 51 votes of MP. The PDM has 34 MPs, the PSRM – 24, the PL – 13, the PLDM – 9, the PCRM – 7, while the unaffiliated MPs total 14.
