Opposition turns down executive posts in permanent parliamentary commissions

The Parliament of Moldova on May 13 set up ten permanent commissions, by one more than in the previous legislature. The three Opposition parliamentary groups refused to accept executive posts in the commissions, Info-Prim Neo reports. The leaders of the three groups – the PL, PLDM and AMN – told the journalists that this way they show once again they do not want executive positions in the Parliament and continue to plead for early polls. The number and nominal composition of the commissions were discussed at the meeting of the Parliament’s Standing Bureau on May 12. The former commission on culture, science, education, youth, sport and mass media was divided into two. The Opposition was offered four posts of chairperson, eight posts of vice chairperson and four posts of secretary according to the principle of proportionality. The posts of secretary will be filled temporarily by representatives of the major group of the Communist Party (PCRM). The other posts remain vacant. The legal commission on appointments and immunities will be headed by the Communist MP Anatol Zagorodnii. Communist Igor Vremea will act as its vice chairman. The outgoing Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Iurie Muntean will lead the commission on economic policy, budget and finances, while Gheorghe Popa will be vice chairman. The commission will also include the outgoing Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Dodon, former Speaker Marian Lupu and presidential adviser Oleg Reidman. The commission on national security, defense and public order will have two Communist vice chairmen, Iurie Stoicov and Vadim Misin. The leader of the PLDM group Vlad Filat will also form part of the commission. The commission on foreign policy and European integration will be headed by two former presidential consultants, Communists Mark Tkaciuk (chairman) and Sergiu Stati (vice chairman). The commission will also include the leaders of the parliamentary groups of the PL Mihai Ghimpu and AMN Serafim Urecheanu. Ala Mironic of the PCRM was named as vice chairwoman of the commission on human rights, while Communist MP Petru Porcescu – as vice chairman of the commission on local public administration, ecology and territorial development. The commission on agriculture and food industry will be led as earlier by Dumitru Todoroglo of the PCRM. Iurie Eriomin will act as vice chairman. The commission on social protection, health and family will be headed by Communist Oxana Dementiev. Vladimir Eremciuc of the PCRM will be vice chairman. The outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Victor Stepaniuc of the PCRM will lead the commission on youth, education, science and mass media. The leader of the Communist youth Ina Supac will act as his deputy. The commission on culture, tourism and sport will have two vice chairpersons from the PCRM, Oleg Babenco and Ala Ursu.