Communist MPs are against selling farmland to foreign investors

The Communist parliamentarians voted down two bills that allowed the foreign investors to purchase farmland in Moldova, put forward by the Opposition legislators. The two bills were tabled by the MPs Vladimir Filat and Igor Klipii. They said that the distribution of land to the people led to the excessive parceling of the fields and the owners cannot adequately work it or leave it uncultivated because they do not have financial resources and the necessary machinery. At the same time, the Moldovan population does not invest in the agricultural fields and the liberalization of the land market, including for the foreign investors, can be an efficient mechanism for revitalizing agriculture and consolidating the land. Deputy speaker Iurie Rosca said he is in favour of adopting the bills, stressing that the opening of the market for foreign investors will help Moldova come closer to the EU. He stressed the necessity of attracting foreign capital, including to agriculture. The Communist MPs did not back the bills, saying that the current price of about 6,000 lei for hectare of land is too small compared with the prices in other countries, where they can reach 20,000 euros. The two bills were rejected by the vote of the majority parliamentary group.