The government had an inappropriate reaction after the Venice Commission made public its opinion about the proposed electoral system reform, said ex-President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin. In a conference staged by the Public Council of the organization “For a Free Homeland”, the leader of the Party of Communists said the European institutions do not give instructions, but this does not mean that their recommendations can be ignored. They are mandatory if the country forms part of such an institution and signed a number of international treaties, IPN reports.
“The European institutions have sufficient experience to understand what is going on in Moldova,” stated Vladimir Voronin, adding that our decisions affect the country’s reputation before such bodies. He thanked the experts of the Venice Commission for the opinion about the proposed reform adopted several days ago. According to him, the statements made by the representatives of the government after the Commission’s conclusions were made public show that the regime continues to degenerate and to come closer to a dictatorial one.
The Communist leader said officials’ assertions that the Venice Commission recommended only to make technical amendments to the proposal to introduce the mixed-member electoral system is a barefaced lie. “This is a blatant lie as the Commission’s conclusions include critical, not technical notes,” he stated.
In the same news conference, expert Sergiu Tofilat recommended to create a group of experts in the electoral field that would challenge the proposal in the Constitutional Court and would examine the opportunity of initiating a referendum on changing the electoral system.
“Our Party” deputy chairman Dumitru Chubashenko said only a blind person does not see the activity of the Plahotniuc-Dodon duo. When the majority of opposition parties plead for freeing the state from captivity, the two make effort for the regime of their two parties to manage the country.
The conference “Electoral system in Moldova: yesterday, today and tomorrow” brought together experts, politicians, representatives of the Russian community in Moldova and others.
During its plenary session on June 16, the Venice Commission adopted opinions that critically assess the draft law for Moldova’s electoral system for the election of Parliament and a proposal to expand presidential powers. Following extensive public consultations with all relevant stakeholders, the joint opinion concluded that the proposed reform cannot be considered as having been adopted by broad consensus. It raises “significant concerns” including the risk that constituency members of parliament would be vulnerable to being influenced by business interests. Furthermore, according to the joint opinion, the responsibility vested with the Central Election Commission to establish single-mandate constituencies for the majoritarian component is based on vague criteria that pose a risk of political influence.
In reaction, Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, of the Democratic Party, said the Moldovan authorities pledged to respect the recommendations of the Venice Commission so as to improve the electoral legislation and no questions appear as to the voting in the diaspora and on the left side of the Nistru and the participation of women in politics is ensured. But the change in the electoral system will take place because this is the will of the majority of people.
