Marian Lupu: AEI will make public a joint stance on modification of Constitution in February

The Alliance for European Integration (AEI) will adopt a joint poison on the modification of the Constitution in February, after it will consult with European experts, the leader of the Democratic Party (PDM) Marian Lupu said on Friday, January 29. In a news conference, Lupu said that is is necessary to identify optimal solutions in accordance with the principles of supremacy of law and the European norms. After holding consultations with experts of the Venice Commission, who are to pay a visit to Moldova at the start of February, the Alliance will have discussions and take a unanimous decision. Afterward, discussions will be held with representatives of the Communists Party. Lupu said the Constitution should be amended by the Parliament, not by referendum that would be organized at a cost of about 40-50 million lei. The PDM invited the German expert Dieter Schimanker to express his opinion on the given issue. The expert said that the present Constitution is rather good and should not be modified, except the article about the election of the head of state. He stressed that during the first round the President should be elected by a simple majority and the ceiling should be reduced if the head of state is not voted in. As to other amendments to the Constitution, the expert said that they should be introduced in only 2-3 years, after they are discussed thoroughly by parties and the society. Last yearend, Moldova's Acting President Mihai Ghimpu issued a decree to constitute a constitutional reform commission that will formulate amendments to the supreme law. The commission proposed amendments to 69 articles of the Constitution. In 2009, two Parliaments failed to elect the head of state as the candidates could not garner the 61 votes needed.