Vladimir Turcan named first deputy speaker, Grigore Petrenco – deputy speaker

The Communist MP Vladimir Turcan, the former chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Appointments and Immunities, was elected Tuesday as first deputy speaker of Parliament, while the former chairman of the Commission for Foreign Policy, the Communist MP Grigore Petrenco became deputy speaker. The two were elected by the vote of 60 Communist MPs, Info-Prim Neo reports. Speaker Vladimir Voronin proposed electing three deputy speakers – one first deputy speaker and two deputy speakers. Therefore, the 60 MPs adopted a decision to modify the structure of the Parliament, introducing one more post of deputy speaker. One of the deputy speakers was to be chosen from among the representatives of the Opposition. The three Opposition parliamentary groups – the PL, PLDM and AMN – put up no candidate. At the same sitting, there was elected the Parliament’s Standing Bureau. It is composed of 11 MPs, eight of whom representing the Communist Party and three the Opposition: Mihai Ghimpu, Vlad Filat and Serafim Urecheanu. The Speaker and deputy speakers of the Parliament are members of the Political Bureau ex officio. The next sitting of the Parliament is scheduled for May 13, when there will be set up the permanent legislative commissions.