On March 6, the Democrat Party (PDM) suggested introducing the uninominal voting system instead of the party-list proportional representation system. In a news conference, the Democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc said the PDM will promote this system, while the electoral law will be modified after the Venice Commission gives its appraisal. The leader of the PDM presented three arguments in favor of the uninominal voting system. One of them is that the people will be able to choose the MPs they know, in the same way in which they choose the mayors. This system will also enable the people to withdraw the MPs they chose before time and to elect others. Also, the Moldovans from the diaspora will be able to choose their own representatives in Parliament.
On March 7, deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine Igor Guz proposes actions to block smuggling from the Transnistrian region. In a news conference at IPN, the Ukrainian MP said he will insistently promote the blocking of smuggling from Transnistria within the Ukrainian administrative bodies and noted that the government in Kyiv wants Moldova to remain firm on the path of European integration chosen eight years ago.
The same day, ex-governor of the National Bank of Moldova Leonid Talmaci was released from remand detention under judiciary control. The information was confirmed for IPN by lawyer Vitalie Nagachevski, who represents Talmaci. The lawyer said Leonid Talmaci was still in the hospital.
In a news conference on March 8, the Partnership for Development Center said the equality between women and men in Moldova remains at a low level. Even if the Gender Equality Index, determined by the Centre, has improved compared with 2009 and 2015, the improvement is considered insignificant. In 2016, only one area of the six based on which the index is determined, passed the ceiling of 70 points, as opposed to two areas in 2009 and 2015.
On March 9, the Moldovan authorities notified the political administration of the Russian Federation of the abusive treatment of Moldovan officials of Parliament, Government, special services and parties of the ruling alliance of Moldova in Russia. Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu and Prime Minister Pavel Filip on March 9 had a meeting with Russia’s Ambassador in Chisinau Farit Muhametshin, where they asked that the given note should be transmitted to the Russian authorities. The diplomat was informed that until this problem is not solved, the Moldovan officials will be recommended not to travel to Russia.
The same day, Prosecutor General Eduard Harunjen appointed his deputies. These are Mircea Rosioru, Igor Popa sand Iurie Garaba. The candidates were accepted by the Superior Council of Prosecutors.
Also on March 9, an initiative group announced the foundation of a new political party in Moldova. The People’s Will is a center-right party that will be different from the other parties by real internal democracy. It will pursue the goal of restoring the people’s confidence in the political parties and state institutions, initiative group member Nicolae Garbu said in a news conference at IPN.
On March 10, the Democratic parliamentary group decided to accept the 14 MPs of the Social-Democratic Platform into its ranks. In a press briefing, Democrat Marian Lupu said the decision of the 14 MPs is a responsible one and it will contribute to Moldova’s modernization through the implementation of the Association Agreement with the European Union.
The same day, President Igor Dodon’s first legislative initiative to repeal the law that transforms the loans provided to three banks under state guarantee into public debt was rejected by Parliament.
For his part, Igor Dodon said forces should be maximally combined to obtain the annulment of this shameful law.
On March 11, several hundred employees of the state-run company “Moldova’s Railways” protested against the delay in paying their salaries in front of the Government Building. They demanded that the salary arrears should be cleared.
