The European People’s Party of Moldova (PPEM) asks to immediately withdraw the draft law on the status of Chisinau municipality, which was put feared by Liberal MPs, from the agenda of Parliament. Members of the PPEM consider the bill is anti-constitutional and is aimed at instituting an autocratic system in the municipality of Chisinau, IPN reports.

In a news conference, representatives of the party said the draft law on the status of Chisinau municipality centers only on the transfer of powers and duties from the Chisinau Municipal Council to the mayor general.

Chisinau councilor on behalf of the PPEM Veaceslav Bulat said the adoption of the bill will augment the conflict between the mayor general and the Municipal Council. “By this bill, they aim to create a juridical enclave and the municipality of Chisinau will be given the status of juridical autonomous unit that will be managed by the mayor alone,” he stated.

Veaceslav Bulat noted the bill diminishes the Council’s authority and limits the councilor’s power to put forward draft decisions. It empowers the mayor general with a number of functions that would offer this unlimited power in the municipality. The mayor will be able to name all the heads of divisions and municipal companies, even if these are founded by the Council. This could also replace the deputy mayors of the city.

The councilors also consider that the bill runs counter to provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government because it empowers an executive body with powers typical of a representative authority, and to constitutional norms too as it violates the principle of separation of powers.

For his part, MP Eugen Carpov, of Iurie Leanca’s group, said the bill will worsen the crisis situation experienced now by the Chisinau Council and the City Hall. This should be subject to public debates involving representatives of civil society and residents of the municipality as well as specialized bodies, while the final text of the draft law should be appraised by foreign organizations.

Earlier, Chisinau councilors of the Party of Socialists also said that this bill is designed to limit the powers of the municipal councilors and to give more powers to the mayor general.