The Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections and Promo-Lex Association called upon Parliament to suspend the examination in the second reading of bill No. 163, regarding the modification of the electoral system. The NGOs express their concern about the hasty adoption of the bill and demand that the authorities hold public debates on the document, IPN reports.
“Such a bill that radically changes the electoral system of Moldova can be passed only after long consultations with civil society and after it is endorsed by all the parliamentary commissions, ministries and commissions that deal with the electoral politics. The bill needs to be discussed with the general public and the foreign partners,” the secretary of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections Nicolae Panfil told a news conference.
He underlined that President Nicolae Timofti, as ex-chairman of the Central Election Commission (in 1995, e.n.), should understand that the switchover to the joint electoral system must be preceded by consultations with national and foreign players. “We hope that this law will not be adopted in Parliament. If it is adopted, it should be stooped by the head of state,” said Nicolae Panfil.
According to Promo-Lex program director Pavel Postica, in the current form the bill discriminates against the Moldovans from abroad and those living in the Transnistrian region.
“More than 230,000 voters from Moldova live in the Transnistrian region. They are allowed to vote only based on party lists, not yet based on the uninominal vote. This is major discrimination compared with the rest of the Moldovan voters. Those who live abroad will be in a similar situation. I want to draw attention to the role of the electoral bodies that will regulate the activity of the uninominal constituencies. Under the bill, the candidates will be registered at the Central Election Commission. Thus, obstacles are placed in front of the future candidates from the very beginning. Normally, they should register at the bodies of the uninominal constituencies,” said Pavel Postica.
National Youth Council head Eduard Mihalas said the hurry by which this bill is promoted arouses suspicions. “We fear that this bill will be used as an instrument in the possible early elections,” said the young man.
The bill provides for the switchover to the joint electoral system under which half of the MPs will be voted directly by the people, while the other half under party lists. This means that the voters will receive by two ballots. The bill was passed by Parliament in the first reading on April 18.
