Change of Parliamentary committees’ structure arouses scandal in Parliament

The Parliament changed on Friday, December 1, the structure of several parliamentary committees, fact which generated intense debates among MPs, several of them leaving the sitting room. According to a draft decision, the MP of “Moldova Noastra” Alliance Vasile Pantea was appointed as deputy chairman of the Committee for Economic policy, budget and finances, replacing Iurie Bolboceanu who submitted his resignation one week ago. Also, the Christian-Democrat MP, Valentina Serpu was appointed as deputy-chairman of the Committee for Social Protection, Health and Family, replacing Valentina Golban who was recently revoked from this position. The most intense debates were triggered by the revocation of one of the leaders of AMN faction, Veaceslav Untila from the position of chairman of the Committee for Public Administration, Environment and Territorial Development. He was replaced with the independent MP Vladimir Ciobanu. From the beginning of the sitting, the AMN MP Leonid Bujor announced that the faction he represents will boycott the sitting of the Parliament because the draft decision stipulates the dismissal of Untila. AMN qualifies the draft as a blatant violation of several articles included in the Parliamentary Regulations and an action that disfavors opposition, Bujor added. Subsequently the social-liberal group and the one led by Dumitru Braghis have also left the sitting room. Igor Klipii accused the communist faction that it reorganizes the Parliamentary committees as they like. Dumitru Braghis stated that the communist faction tries to buy some MPs by these actions in order to gain more votes. The communists denied the accusations. Vadim Misin stated that Ciobanu is ready to lead the committee, and the communist party has the right to propose anyone to these positions. The leader of the Democrat Party, Dumitru Diacov and of PPCD Iurie Rosca pleaded in the favor of the draft, which was voted by 3 factions and several independent MPs. 9 Parliamentary committees are acting in the Parliament.