Increasing credibility before people is the most serious challenge of the Moldovan Parliament. The general perception is that the legislature faces serous problems related to corruption and lack of transparency in the decision-making process. Such conclusions were reached by Transparency International Moldova when appraising the National Integrity System within the National Integrity System Assessments in European Neighborhood East Region Project that covers five EaP member states.
In a news conference at IPN, Transparency International Moldova expert Mariana Kalughin said the Standing Bureau is the most non-transparent body of Parliament. It does not make its decisions and agenda public. The Parliament’s image is also affected by the flagrant and repeated ignoring of the legislative procedure and integrity-related problems.
According to Mariana Kalughin, the MPs fragrantly violate the provisions of the Parliament’s Regulations. A part of the existing problems can disappear after the lawmakers move to the renovated Parliament Building, where the voting and attendance will be monitored electronically.
Transparency International Moldova formulated a number of recommendations for amending the existing legislation. Namely, the personnel of the Parliament’s Secretariat must be appointed by the Secretary General of the legislature. The Parliament must produce and published annual reports on decisional transparency and examine the draft Code of Ethics and Conduct of MPs by specifying such aspects as the conflicts of interests, post-employment restrictions and mechanisms for implementing the imposed penalties.
The National Integrity System Assessments in European Neighborhood East Region Project is financially supported by the European Commission. It envisions the assessment of 13 institutions of the National Integrity System.
