The legislative initiative to introduce the European integration course in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova was debated in the October 12 sitting of Parliament. The Socialist parliamentary group left the assembly hall in protest, saying the power in the state is being usurped. The Liberal MPs left before the voting procedure. At the suggestion of Speaker Andrian Candu, who is one of the authors of the bill, the draft law was to be put to a nominal vote. However, after the debates and speeches that lasted for over three hours, the Speaker proposed that the vote should be postponed until next week, IPN reports.

When presenting the bill, Andrian Candu said the European Union offers now the best development model, in terms of freedoms and rights and because it represents the largest market for Moldova. The given amendment to the Constitution is needed as the Constitution defines the country development principles and the basic legal rules. What is to be introduced in the Constitution is not for today or tomorrow, but for the future generations.

In the debates, Socialist MP Vlad Batrîncea asked why they didn’t allow the people to take this decision so that it was credible also for those who do not trust the government. Andrian Candu replied that Parliament consists of the representatives of people and the law allows the MPs to do this.

Communist MP Vladimir Voronin said the European integration formula is mainly social and has an economic component, but it is not clear what the legal component is. The European integration was initiated by the PCRM in 2002, but nothing has been done in this respect lately.

Lib-Dem Vadim Pistrinciuc stated the Association Agreement with the EU signed in July 2014 clearly describes the institutional cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the EU. This constitutional amendment does not look like a guarantee of the European course, but rather like an electoral action.

Socialist MP Bogdan Țîrdea wondered how the European integration of Moldova can be discussed when there is no European document that would confirm the European integration perspective. The bill has only ideological content and no legal substance.

Lib-Dem Tudor Deliu noted the initiate shows agony before the incapacity to improve the image of some before the citizens and the foreign partners. The government does not really want the country to follow the path of European integration. The PDM makes a last attempt to attract a part of the voters of the right, but will not be troubled if the bill is not adopted as it will use the situation to defame those who dared to have another opinion.

The head of the Liberal group Mihai Ghimpu said the Liberal Party was and is the supporter of the European integration, but the European integration does not mean the democracy of a party or a person, criminal cases started without evidence, businesses stolen by the government, poor people and rich government. It means justice only based on the law, for everyone, and the right to work and live decently at home, values and standards each day and an exemplary political class. The idea to enshrine the European integration in the Constitution is good, but is promoted not by those who should promote it.

Democratic MP Dumitru Diacov noted the proposal to enshrine the European integration in the Constitution is not ideological, but political-juridical. The European integration is an attempt to stabilize the political situation in Moldova for many years ahead. The MP urged his colleagues to vote for the initiative or they will regret.

George Mocanu, of the European People’s Group, said that owing to political arrogance and angers a historical chance that can be transformed into an opportunity can be missed. The European integration is a path to development, a strategic direction and the integration objective is above the parties and should be enshrined in the Constitution.

At the end of the discussions, Andrian Candu proposed that the vote should be put off until next week, expressing his disappointment at the fact that the political confrontations and frustrations of some prevailed over the national interests of the Republic of Moldova.