MP Ștefan Gațcan came to the July 9 sitting of Parliament. His colleagues put him questions, but he didn’t make statements at the start of the sitting. The head of the legal commission for appointment and immunities Vasile Bolea said that Ștefan Gațcan withdrew his application to renounce the seat of MP filed on July 1, IPN reports.

Socialist MP Vasile Bolea said that Mister Gațcan invoked Article 78, par. 2 of the Administrative Code, which provides that the application can be withdrawn until the procedure is not finished.

PPPDA MP Maria Ciobanu asked Ștefan Gațcan to say what happened to him and where had he been for a week. She noted that what Mister Gațcan did is a shame for the whole Parliament and he should better vacate his seat if he still has some pride.

PPPDA MP Vasile Năstase said Mister Gațcan returned from abroad and should self-isolate for 14 days. He is a doctor, but gives such an example to the people.

Socialist MP Vlad Batrîncea replied that there are so many lawyers of a criminal group in Parliament, who, by criminal methods, corrupt MPs and they speak now about moral standards.

The leader of the Pro Moldova group Andrian Candu said that effort will be made for the developments in the case of Gațcan to be probed, including by international investigations. He and his colleagues will refrain from making political statements as they understand the difficult position of Gațcan.

Ștefan Gațcan didn’t make statements in Parliament and for the press, but published a posting on Facebook, saying he has gone through a tumultuous period generated by particular political decisions he took. “I got trapped in a political game and, when I realized that my withdrawal is used to block the Parliament’s activity, I decided that this is inadmissible, especially when the Government was to come with raises for my colleagues, doctors, for pensioners, farmers and other categories of citizens,” he stated.

He noted that even if he decided to leave politics, he could not remain indifferent when he saw what chaos was created in Parliament. “I thus decided that my presence in Parliament is necessary at least until I can help the country avoid instability and blockage. I haven’t yet abandoned the idea of withdrawing from politics and will do this when my withdrawal will not have serious consequences for the people,” runs the posting.

Ștefan Gațcan was elected MP in constituency No. 38 Hâncești, where he ran on behalf of the PSRM, on March 15 this year. On June 30, Ștefan Gațcan announced his decision to defect from the Socialist parliamentary group to the Pro Moldova group. According to press reports, the MP received half a million U.S. dollars for this “betrayal”. To change his mind, the MP was threatened with death and beaten.

In only one day, on July 1, Ștefan Gațcan handed over his resignation from the post of MP. The Party of Socialists issued a press release, saying Ștefan Gațcan remains part of the PSRM’s team and will be actively engaged in the work of the party’s social group so that he uses his professional experience in drafting bills related to the health policies. Pro Moldova said the MP was abducted. A day ago, Ștefan Gațcan was found by journalists of “Ziarul de Iași” in the hall of the Internațional Hotel when he was waiting for his family. He told them he will return home and will make important statements in Parliament.