CEC members say they know nothing about possible dissolution of the Commission

Members of the Central Election Commission (CEC) say that they do not know anything about a possible dissolution of the present composition of the Commission and the restoration of the old constitution method. After the CEC member Nicolae Garbu made a relevant enquiry, the vice president of the commission Renata Lapti said on January 22 that according to press reports, such a proposal is being examined, but she knows no other details. The other members of the Commission could not provide additional information either. During a radio and TV broadcast a week ago, Communist MP Vladimir Turcan, chairman of the legal commission for appointments and immunities, said that in a report, the Venice Commission does not welcome the new method under which political parties propose CEC members. He stressed that there is no bill envisaging the reviving of the old practice of constituting the Commission at the moment, but did not rule out that one could appear in the near future. Leader of the Democratic Party Dumitru Diacov said that discussions about such an amendment are held behind the scenes. A bill will soon appear if there are discussions, he said. Under the amendments to the Electoral Code introduced in 2005, the Central Electoral Commission is composed of nine members with deliberative vote: one member is designated by the President of Moldova, one by the Government and seven by the Parliament, five of whom by the Opposition parties proportionally to the number of seats held. The CEC members are irremovable and elected for a five-year term. Earlier, the Presidential Office, the Parliament and the Superior Council of Magistracy appointed by three CEC members each.