Two MPs have developed a legislative proposal that would enable citizens to submit collective petitions to Parliament. Under the proposal, if petitions are able to collect ten thousand signatures, they will get debated in Parliament.

Presenting the bill during a press briefing today, MP Radu Marian (ACUM/PAS) said petitions can be submitted both in paper form and electronically. Parliament could set up an online platform for petition creators to promote them and collect signatures. The signatures will be considered valid if subscribers provide their name, surname, personal code and address. Each placed initiative will have 60 days to collect the needed amount of signatures. 

If Parliament’s respective committee decides that the petition’s subject is of public interest, it will become a bill. The petition mechanism should become functional starting on November 1.

MP Dan Perciun (ACUM/PAS) declared that the initiative is designed to contribute to strengthening direct democracy in Moldova. The idea has been inspired from the existent practice of Great Britain’s Parliament. “We are proposing this bill in order to make the authorities listen to citizens’ opinions,” declared Dan Perciun.

The bill’s creators say that the initiative is also intended to help the opposition parties promote their ideas in Parliament.