Confusion could leave State Flag without law

The Law on the State Flag was adopted in final reading by 50 votes. Initially, Head of Parliament and Acting President of Moldova Mihai Ghimpu said the bill was not passed as it was one vote short. But at the end of the September 17 sitting he said it had been a confusion as it is an ordinary law that is passed by a majority vote, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Law on the State Flag substitutes the regulations concerning the state flag of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic passed in May 1990. The law stipulates that the Moldovan national flag shall be permanently displayed in the assembly halls of Parliament, the Cabinet, the Constitutional Court, the courts of law, and on buildings of public institutions. The national flag shall also be placed on military buildings, headquarters of political parties, labor union buildings, culture and education establishments, border checkpoints, airports, international train and bus stations, and on ships under Moldovan jurisdiction. The displaying of the national flags will be forbidden on damaged buildings and buildings under extensive repair. The Communist MPs, the lawmakers of the United Moldova group and unaffiliated MP Victor Stepaniuc did not support the bill. Two Democrat MPs were absent when the law was put to the vote, including Marian Lupu, who was giving a press briefing.