The lawmakers’ first plenary sitting of the spring-summer session, which starts in February, will be held in the refurbished hall of the Parliament Building. During a press tour of the renovated building, Speaker Igor Corman said the offices of MPs were 80% repaired so that the lawmakers may remain in the offices at the Ministry of Agriculture for a period, IPN reports.
A sum of 325 million lei has been so far spent on the repair of the Parliament Building. The allocations in 2014 will total 34.5 million lei. The money will be used to finish the repair works in lawmakers’ offices, Europe Hall and the offices of the secretariat. “This money is not enough. About 170 million lei more is needed,” stated Igor Corman.
The assembly hall is located on the second floor. Minister of Regional Development and Construction Marcel Raducan said that hall has been practically finished. There are yet to be installed the balustrade and the entrance doors.
The assembly hall is divided into three sectors. The tables are made of wood brought from Romania, while the chairs are upholstered in natural leather. Every table is outfitted with a microphone and an electronic voting system. The lawmakers will sit from left to right, starting with the largest faction. In the presidium, the Speaker and Deputy Speakers will have by a laptop. On the third floor of the annex, there are the offices of the Liberal-Democratic and Democratic parliamentary groups, while on the fourth floor – the offices of the Communist, Liberal and unaffiliated MPs.
The journalists will not have access to the assembly hall. They will stay in the media center on the same floor, from where they will follow the sittings live, on two monitors. There will be also set up a rostrum from where the MPs will make statements for the press. The renovated building has wheelchair access and a special elevator for persons with disabilities.
The Parliament Building was destroyed during the protests of April 7, 2009. The repair works started shortly afterward, but were suspended in 2010 owing to lack of funds. They were resumed in August 2012.
