United Moldova Party may have parliamentary group

The lawmakers Friday adopted the bill on the modification of the Parliament's Regulations proposed by the leader of the United Moldova Party Vladimir Turcan in first reading. The members of the Alliance for European Integration suggested introducing amendments to the bill in second reading so that it allows constituting a nonpolitical group that will include all the independent and unaffiliated MPs, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vladimir Turcan said the Parliament's Regulations must be modified as the unaffiliated and independent MPs are discriminated. They do not have the right to field candidates for senior state positions, do not form part of the permanent commissions of the legislative body, cannot put forward proposals for modifying the agenda of the sittings as they do not form part of the Standing Bureau. The Democrat MPs said they disagree with the creation of a new parliamentary group as all the groups are set up within 10 days of the constitution of the new legislative body. “You are right when you say that you are in a difficult situation, but we should not allow forming groups after the prescribed period,” said Democrat lawmaker Oleg Serebrian, adding the creation of a nonpolitical group of independent and unaffiliated MPs can be a compromise solution. Liberal-Democrat MP Mihai Godea suggested adopting Vladimir Turcan's bill in first reading in order to interrupt the long debates. “I think the authors of the initiative pursue political goals as well. We should hold more discussions,” Mihai Godea said. The group of unaffiliated MPs of the United Moldova Party consists of the five MPs who deflected from the Communist Party last yearend.