National Participation Council requests AEI to resume talks on election of President

The National Participation Council called on the Alliance for European Integration (AEI) to immediately reopen the negotiations on the election of the head of state in Parliament, after identifying an apolitical candidate for the presidency, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a statement from the Council. The Council also suggests establishing a wide participation platform for drafting the principles and text of the constitutional law on the amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. It considers that the Constitution should be amended in Parliament, by the relevant procedures. The Council demands continuing the vital reforms needed to ensure the democratic progress in the country and decent living standards. Earlier, a group of seven representatives of civil society issued a statement, expressing their disagreement with the AEI’s decision to hold a constitutional referendum to amend the procedure for electing the President. The National Participation Council subscribed to the statement. The Council said the political situation does not contribute to the promotion of the reforms promised by the ruling alliance because the people gave a vote of confidence in July 2009 and in November 2010. The delay in implementing the reforms in the justice sector, the high level of corruption and the unfriendly entrepreneurial environment endanger the country’s course to European integration. The National Participation Council consists of 30 representatives of nongovernmental organizations. It aims to develop and promote the strategic partnership between the public authorities, civil society and the private sector with a view to strengthening participative democracy in Moldova. The Council was created at the suggestion of the Government as a consultative body.