PLDM offers AMN and PL to set council for dialog

The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), Vlad Filat, has sent the leaders of Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN), Serafim Urechean, and of the Liberal Party (PL), Mihai Ghimpu, a letter proposing to set up a council for dialog and participation, envisaging to identify solutions to participate in the coming parliamentary elections, Info-Prim Neo reports. The PLDM leader told a news conference on Thursday the initiative resulted from the political situation and from the need of cooperation among the opposition parties. Vlad Filat has specified he launches the initiative to those parties namely because they have real chances to enter the parliament and share a lot of joint interests, starting from the cooperation within the local council of Chisinau (CMC) and ending with common issues in district and local councils. According to Vlad Filat, the need for cooperation is determined not only by the already discussed issues (interdiction to form electoral blocs and raising the electoral threshold), but also by the fact that the idea to go for elections on a joint list is practically unachievable. According to the Electoral Law, the political parties can designate as candidates, on electoral lists, both members and unaffiliated figures. In order to participate in the elections on a joint list, the leaders should not only get out of the parties, but should give up their position as presidents, what could disturb the work of parties, Vlad Filat explains. “Setting up the council is necessary also because the parties called “good” by President Vladimir Voronin (PCRM, PPCD, PDM – e.n.) wonderfully coordinate their moves both in the Parliament, the CMC, and in the local councils,” Filat added. Within the council-to-be, the representatives of parties are to devise the principles of cooperation among the parties, permanently communicating and cooperating to make correct decisions as to the way of participating in elections. Such a joint consulting body could later attract other parties, to undersign the joint principles and objectives, Vlad Filat said. He hopes AMN and PL will promptly respond to PLDM's initiative, till the beginning of September when the parties will start announcing how they are going to participate in the elections. On September 27, at the second congress of PLDM, it is to present its shadow cabinet, and it is not excluded it will have as shadow members representatives of the other two parties, Vlad Filat specified. Asked by Info-Prim Neo, AMN's vice president, Veaceslav Untila, has said AMN accepts PLDM's offer and welcomes it. “We'll be very active at this round table, we'll have a constructive dialog and I am certain we'll get together the democratic forces in the 2009 electoral race. Even more, we'll do our best to set up joint lists, although it may be to the detriment of certain parties. If we find it right to oust the Communists in 2009, we'll do it,” Veaceslav Untila said. The collective body of AMN is to convene soon to make a final decision. The Liberal president, Mihai Ghimpu, has told Info-Prim Neo he does not have an answer for Vlad Filat's offer, so far. Such a decision can be taken only by the PL's steady bureau, and Mihai Ghimpu says they'll discuss the Lib-Dems' letter on 21 July. At the news conference, Vlad Filat has announced PLDM will lodge, on Thursday, with the Government 10,731 signatures collected to support the Convention on minor border traffic and the decisions adopted by a number of local bodies backing the signing of the Convention. Following the PLDM's appeal launched on May 25, such decisions have been adopted by the local councils of the districts of Ungheni, Falesti, Cantemir, Ialoveni, Hancesti, Nisporeni, Cimislia, Cahul and Chisinau, the town councils of Cahul, Ialoveni, Nisporeni and Ungheni, as well as a series of village councils, demanding the Government to urgently sign the Convention. Vlad Filat claims 1.5 million citizens have officially stated their position to sign the Convention. From 21 July to September 1, PLDM plans “mass pro-convention actions in all localities” to be covered by the Convention's scope.