The bill that envisions the replacement of the electoral system will be passed in the final reading only after this is assessed by the Venice Commission. “The experts will analyze the bill proposed in the compromise variant already,” Minister of Justice Vladimir Cebotari said in a press briefing held after the working meeting of the Democratic Party, IPN reports.

This is not the first experience of the kind of the Venice Commission in relation to the Republic of Moldova. Vladimir Cebotari reminded that in 2013, at the request of the Democratic Party, the Commission presented its appraisal of the proposal to introduce the mixed-member electoral system. “We then received a number of recommendations, such as: to take into consideration the diaspora, the vote of the Transnistrians, the existence of a political consensus, etc.” said the minister.

According to him, the previous recommendations were taken into account so that the new bill that was passed in the first reading on May 5 meets all the requirements. “Regrettably, not all those who oppose the replacement of the electoral system came to take part in the discussions and debates staged on the issue,” stated Vladimir Cebotari.

The joint delegation of the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR is paying a fact-finding visit to Moldova during May 9-11. The visit takes place in connection with the preparation by the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR of the appraisal of the bill to review the electoral legislation of Moldova. Today, May 10, the delegation has meetings with MPs of the parliamentary groups of the Communist Party, Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party, Party of Socialists and Liberal Party.