Igor Munteanu: PCRM will not take revenge this year

The Alliance for European Integration's decision to implement a constitutional reform means impossibility of taking revenge this year for the Communists Party, considers political analyst Igor Munteanu, the head of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”. Munteanu told Info-Prim Neo that the Alliance's decision to amend the Constitution of Moldova was a test of the Alliance's unity. He considers that the statements made by the PCRM in reaction to the government coalition's initiative to hold a referendum to modify the supreme law are populist. “It is not the politicians, but a competent authority that can decide whether a certain action was usurpation of state power or not,” he said. Asked to express his opinion about the PCRM's decision to initiate a referendum to give a vote of no confidence to the ruling alliance, Igor Munteanu said theoretically the Communist faction can do it (the decision to hold a referendum is taken by the vote of 1/3 of MPs). But the Communist MPs will have to present their proposal first and then collect signatures to show that a part of the population is in favor of their initiative. “I think the statements about a possible counter-referendum are rhetoric and do not represent attempt to talk with the democratic government,” Igor Munteanu said. Munteanu also said that the work of the Parliament will not be impeded if the Communist faction does not attend the sittings. The Alliance has enough votes to adopt ordinary or organic laws. “If the 44 Communist MPs do not come to the sittings, the voters will start putting questions,” he said. Besides, the Parliament's regulations say that if an MP does not attend the sittings conscientiously and systematically, they can remain without the seat. “The logical question is: is the PCRM prepared to take such a risk and lose the seats? Certainly not,” the analyst said.