Opposition MPs demand resumption of live broadcasts from Parliament

A group of deputies from opposition came up with an initiative to make live broadcasts from Parliament mandatory. The motion was proposed to the legislature on Thursday, October 4. MP Gheorghe Surarenco, who spoke on behalf of the initiative group, asked the leadership of Parliament to include the draft on the agenda of one of the next meetings of the legislative body. The draft proposes replacing the phrase “… sittings can be broadcast live on national radio and television stations…” by “shall be broadcast live on national radio and television stations…”. According to the motion authors, broadcasts from Parliament, ensured in the period 2005-2006, were largely backed by the general public, by the political parties, civil society and international organisations. The practice of broadcasting live the sittings of Parliament, either on national or specialised channels, is one of the prerequisites for the development of the European countries, especially for one with an incipient democracy and a fragile civil society. At the same sitting, MP Vladimir Filat requested a prompter decision concerning the permission to broadcast live from Parliament by the private Vocea Basarabiei Radio. On March 23, the Parliament amended its Regulations and annulled the compulsoriness of live broadcasts, sparking a two-hour dispute among the deputies. The decision to pull the plug on live broadcasts was backed by the Communist and Christian-Democrat MPs. In protest, Susarenco left then the Christian-Democrat faction.