New Parliament starts and ends first session

The new Moldovan Parliament convened in its first session on Tuesday, May 5, in the Palace of the Republic, Info-Prim Neo reports. 98 of those 101 MPs elected turned up. Andrei Stratan (PCRM), Veaceslav Platon (AMN) and mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca (PL) did not attend the session, but the latter one had announced he would give up his mandate on Monday. The deputies honored the state flag and anthem and took note of the decision of the Constitutional Court about validating the April 5 elections, read by the chairman of the Constitutional Court, Dumitru Pulbere. The session was conducted by the oldest parliamentarian, the Communist Ivan Calin, aged 74. “From this moment, the 17th Parliament is considered legally instituted,” Calin said. In his speech, Calin said the elections were fair, transparent, democratic, well organized and unfolded in accordance with the Electoral Code. At the same time, he says the April 6-8 events have nothing to do with the elections. “The enemies of the statehood have been preparing a coup d'etat for years, meant not only to destroy the statehood, but also to attach the country to another state,” Calin said. “The putsch was triggered by the lie about the so-called counterfeit of the poll, some politicians speak of, may God judge them, as they thought the voters did not appreciate them enough,” he said and urged all the MPs to refrain from statements about this issue. Calin has said the early vote is not justified by the economic, political and social situation in Moldova. “The authors of this idea shall not forget that all will have to lose from that act, and first of all -- the authors,” Calin pointed out. He called to normal and efficient activity and to totally give up the idea of early elections. Immediately after his discourse, the oldest parliamentarian, who chaired the session, declared it closed. The next sitting was announced for Tuesday, May 12, when the Parliament's structures will be elected.