Contradictory opinions were stated on the annulment of the electoral reform proposed by representatives of civil society. The opponents of the annulment said the Venice Commission does not recommend abrogating the electoral system before the elections, while the initiators of the anti-mixed system referendum noted the formulation of such a thesis represents manipulation of the public opinion as the abrogation of a law does not mean amendment of the electoral legislation, which is not recommended to be done within a year of the elections. The issue was developed in the talk show “Expertise hour” on Jurnal TV channel, IPN reports.
Political analyst Corneliu Ciurea wondered if it’s right from ethical-moral viewpoint for civil society to ignore the Venice Commission’s recommendations not to amend the electoral legislation during a year before the elections. “This is what the representatives of civil society suggest us to do without saying it. It is interesting as they do not admit that the recommendations of the Venice Commission will have to be violated. If we admit that the PDM violated them the first time, they will violate them the second time and the question arises as to whether or not they are better than the first?” said the analyst.
Corneliu Ciurea asked what civil society suggests instead the mixed-member electoral system because the initiators should suggest another law instead of the current one.
Stefan Gligor, programs director at the Center for Politics and Reforms, said the Democratic Party initially promoted and campaigned for the uninominal voting system, but ultimately voted for the mixed system despite the recommendations of the Venice Commission. By proposing annulling the law by which the mixed system was introduced by a referendum, they no way violate the Commission’s recommendations. “We support the recommendations of the Venice Commission by the efforts to annul an abuse and to restore the proportional representation system based on which the Democratic Party came to power,” said the programs director.
According to Stefan Gligor, if the mixed electoral system is annulled by referendum, the proportional representation system will be automatically restored and no new law will have to be adopted.
A number of civil society organizations and civic activists announced their intention to stage a consultative referendum on the annulment of the mixed-member electoral system and restoration of the proportional representation system.
