CHISINAU, March 7. /TASS/. Most political parties in Moldova do not support the transition to the majority system at parliamentary elections proposed by leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Moldova (DPM), Vladimir Plahotniuc.
"Moldova and its people need honest politicians, patriots, lawmakers who do not steal billions. The country does not need elections in single-seat constituencies," said Mihai Ghimpu, leader of the Liberal Party, who is a member of the coalition of with the DPM.
He believes that without the liberals this initiative’s chances are very slim. "We did not talk about this in the coalition," Ghimpu said. "The Democratic Party of Moldova does not have a majority in parliament. The law will not be passed without us unless there are some behind-the-scenes deals.
Opposition
"Elections in single-seat constituencies will lead to the parliament’s transition under the full control of the ruling regime," Moldova’s opposition Party of Socialists, which has the biggest faction in parliament, said in a statement. The party noted that the system of recalling lawmakers proposed by Plahotniuc, despite all its advantages, has the opposite side. "Any lawmaker disfavored by the ruling regime can be stripped of his mandate," the statement said.
The socialists supported their former leader, Moldovan President Igor Dodon, who likewise criticized the democrats’ initiative. "As the country’s president, I will be dead against this undemocratic initiative, which destroys the republic’s multi-party system. I am convinced that the socialists’ faction in parliament will not support this bill either. In this regard, I expect other parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties to support me," Dodon emphasized.
Extra-parliamentary opposition
Dodon’s rival in the second round of the presidential election, leader of the right-wing Action and Solidarity Party, Maia Sandu, too took a stand against the democrats’ initiative. "Moldova’s chief problem is tycoon Plahotniuc rather than the election system, which he seeks to change to maintain his power," she told reporters, adding that the country should "be freed from corrupt politicians."
"The oligarch’s initiative indicates that he intends to maintain power in every way possible," said Renato Usatii, leader of Our Party and Mayor of Balti, Moldova’s second largest city. He called on the opposition parties to join forces and create a single front to prevent amendments to the Electoral Code.
The reform
On Monday, the DPM leader proposed to elect the parliament in single-mandate constituencies rather than on the party-list basis. In his view, the transition to that system will make it possible for voters to delegate their representatives to parliament directly. "This will solve numerous problems giving citizens a real opportunity to control those they send to parliament and not to vote for the lists of the parties, with anonymous individuals being behind them," Plahotniuc said.
He added that the proposed voting system will make it possible for voters to recalls a lawmaker’s mandate, if he does not fulfill his duties properly. On the other hand, citizens living abroad will be able to delegate their representatives in the legislative body as well. To introduce a new electoral system in Moldova, it will be enough to amend the Electoral Code by a majority of 52 of 101 lawmakers. The current ruling coalition of pro-European parties has 57 seats in parliament.