The Cabinet examined, but rejected a bill to amend the Election Code so that the elections in single-member constituencies are held in two rounds, IPN reports.
The bill was submitted by a group of MPs as a legislative proposal.
As it was stated in the July 18 meeting of the Cabinet, the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova provides that the electoral system is regulated by an organic law. In its Decision of May 27, 1998, the Constitutional Court said Parliament is the only body that can adopt any type of election or method of distributing the seats of MP. Thus, it is up to the legislative body to decide what electoral system to use: majority, proportional or mixed.
The Constitutional Court also held that the choice of one variant or another and its enshrining in the electoral law depend on the sociopolitical situation in the county, the development level of the political system in society, the problems that are to be solved.
The Court noted that the decision as to one round or two rounds of voting is a matter of political opportunity that is within the remit of the legislative body and is taken in accordance with the democratic standards and the voters’ option.
In the Cabinet meeting, it was underlined that the Venice Commission recommended that the bills to amend the electoral legislation should be introduced into Parliament for examination at least one year before the elections.
