Organisations of civil society are dismayed by today\u2019s joined actions of the deputies from the parliamentary parties: Democratic Party\u00a0(PD), the Socialist Party (PSRM) and the European People’s Party of Moldova (PPEM). They have supported\u00a0the inclusion in the additional agenda of today’s Parliamentary session of two draft laws that introduce crucial\u00a0changes in the electoral system. Thus, on the agenda of the Parliament session were introduced to be voted\u00a0at the first reading the draft no. 60\/2017, promoted by PD, and draft law no. 123\/2017, promoted by PSRM.
\nThe draft law no. 60 proposes the election of 101 deputies within uninominal constituencies (the uninominal\u00a0system), while draft law no. 123 provides for the introduction of the mixed system (50% on party lists and\u00a050% according to the uninominal system). Both draft laws were voted at first reading and their merging was\u00a0announced, taking as primary the draft law suggested by PSRM on the mixed electoral system.\u00a0None of these draft laws appeared on the Parliament’s agenda yesterday, 4 May. None of the draft laws is\u00a0accompanied by Government\u2019s opinions or the opinions of parliamentary committees – mandatory\u00a0requirements imposed by law. After the decision on the introduction of the draft laws in the agenda, the\u00a0Speaker of the Parliament offered an hour to the parliamentary Legal, Appointments and Immunities\u00a0Commission to analyze the draft law no. 123. The Government’s opinion is missing from both draft laws.\u00a0The today\u2019s voting in the first reading takes place on the eve of the visit to the Republic of Moldova of the\u00a0representatives of the Venice Commission. Next week, they will come to Chisinau for a fact-finding visit in\u00a0view of drafting an opinion on the two draft laws, an opinion that was demanded by the Speaker of the\u00a0Parliament and the former PSRM chairman. After the adoption of the drafts in the first reading, they can no\u00a0longer be changed conceptually, even if these changes are recommended by the Venice Commission.\u00a0Independent opinion polls confirm the lack of popular support for the initiative to change the electoral\u00a0system, the current electoral system being preferred by most people, despite massive propaganda to change\u00a0it. Earlier, several civil society organizations have called for withdrawal of the drafts to modify the electoral\u00a0system. The change of the electoral system is a blow to the rule of law and a significant regression regarding\u00a0the commitments made by the Republic of Moldova towards the Council of Europe.
\nThe hurry with which the two draft laws, which radically change the way the country is governed, have been\u00a0introduced into the agenda of the Parliament’s sitting, show only one thing: they aim to promote political\u00a0interests at any cost, even if this means breaking the law, the democracy and the common sense.<\/p>\n
Civil Society organisations call on:<\/p>\n
Declaration is available here (in English)<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Romanian version of the declaration is available here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n