The MPs suspected of corruption, influence peddling, abuse of power, unjust enrichment and money laundering will no longer enjoy parliamentary immunity. A relevant bill to amend Article 70 of the Constitution was adopted after being given a first reading. When the law takes effect, an MP suspected of the aforementioned could be detained, arrested, searched and brought to justice. The bill was passed by the votes of the MPs of the Party of Action and Solidarity and Șor Party. The MPs of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists didn’t support the bill, IPN reports.
“The bill was endorsed by the Constitutional Court and is aimed at ensuring a fair balance between the principle of inviolability of the seat of MP and the interest of the investigation into acts of corruption. The adoption of this bill will contribute to strengthening the society’s confidence in representatives of the public authorities,” said the head of the legal commission for appointments and immunities Olesea Stamate.
The BCS MPs proposed removing the bill from the agenda. Vlad Batrîncea said the parliamentary immunity is a scientific subject not an invention of those from the Republic of Moldova. The MPs of all the civilized countries enjoy legislative immunity so that they could make laws and act freely without being intimidated and persecuted.
PAS MP Vasile Grădinaru said Moldova saw many thieves in Parliament, who regarded this institution as a place for designing corruption schemes and for hiding from criminal liability for corruption. Society knows this. Only 3% of the citizens trust the legislative body.
Șor Party MP Marina Tauber noted that their group welcomes this bill, but it should be supplemented for the second reading. More exactly, the MPs should be fully stripped of immunity, not only partially, as PAS proposed.
The bill is to be given a final reading. The new provisions will come into force when they are published in the Official Gazette.
