The Venice Commission is ready to offer Moldova the necessary assistance and to share its experience in the process of amending the electoral legislation that needs to be improved, but in particular conditions, President of the Commission Gianni Buquicchio said in a press briefing held together with Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu in Chisinau on March 1, IPN reports.
Gianni Buquicchio noted that the Republic of Moldova faces new challenges and one of these derives from the President’s initiative to amend the Constitution so that the Head of State obtains new powers to dissolve Parliament. Another challenge is related to the government’s initiative to amend the Election Code. The Venice Commission has rich experience in both directions and is ready to share it so that the best solutions are identified. Referring to the President’s initiative, the official said the balance of powers should be taken into account and the Commission is ready to work with the three institutions - the presidential administration, Parliament and Government.
As to the other initiative, Gianni Buquicchio said any electoral amendment should be made at least a year before the elections. The existence of a wide discussion and debate process with the involvement of the authorities, political parties and civil society is another condition. The election reform should be adopted after reaching broad consensus at political level and this is the third condition.
Andrian Candu said the Republic of Moldova benefited from the assistance and expertise of the Venice Commission during many years and became thus a ‘trustworthy client’. “We will stage broad debates to identify the best solutions in Parliament for the electoral system and will work together with the Venice Commission to find the best experience,” he stated.
The Speaker also said that the amendment of the electoral legislation is necessary given the deficiencies in the functioning of the electoral system in the Republic of Moldova. A working group will be set up of MPs of all the parliamentary groups, representatives of civil society and the development partners to analyze the proposals for improving the electoral legislation.
