Parliament adopts Liberals’ bill on President election in first reading

The legislature passed in first reading a bill providing that the special public sitting where the head of state is elected and the presidential elections are considered valid only if at least 61 MPs or 3/5 of the MPs take part in them. The bill was put forward by Liberal lawmaker Victor Popa, Info-Prim Neo reports. If a fewer number of MPs take part in the voting, the elections are considered null and void. The Communist MPs were against the bill as, according to them, it is aimed at obliging the lawmakers to enter the polling booth. “You will obtain nothing if you force us to enter the polling booths,” said MP Sergiu Stati. His colleague Oleg Reidman said the bill was proposed for adoption too early, while Sergiu Sirbu expressed his confidence that the bill will be declared unconstitutional if it is adopted in final reading. “We want the Constitution to be respected and are against this bill. But we are for the election of the head of state, in accordance with the law,” said Sergiu Sirbu. The bill was passed in first reading by a majority of votes.