Communist MPs refuse to form part of Moldova's parliamentary delegations to European organizations

The parliamentary group of the Communists Party withdrew all the candidates suggested for members of the parliamentary delegations of Moldova to European organizations. The group made such a decision after the Parliament rejected the Communist candidates Vladimir Voronin and Grigore Petrenko for the post of members of the delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Info-Prim Neo reports. Though the names of the two MPs were present in the bill, the Liberal-Democratic coalition did not accept them. “The non-inclusion of the president of the PCRM (Vladimir Voronin – e.n..) in the delegation looks like political and personal settling of accounts,” said Grigore Petrenko. Vladimir Voronin's candidacy was challenged by the Liberal-Democrat MP Vitalie Nagacevski. He said that the Communist leader attended only four of the current Parliament's sittings.”If Mister Voronin treats his post in the Parliament like this, how will he act in the PACE?” Nagacevski asked. After the members of Moldova's parliamentary delegations to the PACE and the Moldova-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee were voted in, Communist MP Vadim Misin said the Communist faction decided to withdrawn its candidates from the two delegations. Maria Postoiko, the leader of the Communist faction, said the rights of the MPs were infringed, stressing that she will send a letter to the Council of Europe and inform it about the created situation. “I don't think that Mister Voronin is so willing to travel to Strasbourg and do great work there,” said Democrat MP Dumitru Diacov, reminding his colleagues from the Opposition about their behavior in the previous legislatures, when they refused to accept candidates on behalf of the Opposition. The Communist MPs left the assembly hall in protest against the taken decisions. Maria Postoiko did not remain in the hall to deliver the final speech in the name of the Communist faction as the December 29 sitting is the last of the autumn-winter session. The Liberal MP Ana Gutu was named as head of the delegation to the PACE, while Democrat MP Igor Corman – as co-president of the Moldova-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.