“We will continue the debates and will take into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission when we put the draft law to introduce the mixed-member electoral system to the vote in the second reading,” said the president of the Democratic Party (PDM) Vlad Plahotniuc, who is in Brussels on an official political-level visit. The Democrat had meetings with the leaders of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, IPN reports.
In a press release, the PDM says the S&D Group vice president Knut Fleckenstein recommended that the Parliament of Moldova continue the public debates on the bill to introduce the mixed-member electoral system. “We think you reacted calmly and with understanding to the Venice Commission’s opinion. We call on you to start soon new consultations on this subject,” stated Knut Fleckenstein. At the end, the leaders of the European Social-Democrats expressed their support for the electoral reform proposal.
Vlad Plahotniuc assured that the Government of Moldova undertook to do important reforms that already started to produce results. “The Government of Moldova is fully supported by the Democratic Party and the ruling coalition in doing reforms. We assumed the harshest reforms after 2009 and the fact that the changes started to produce results was also noticed by the International Monetary Fund and the European Union. This shows that the government fulfills its commitments to the people and the foreign partners,” stated the Democratic leader.
The S&D Group leaders encouraged the Moldovan government to continue on the path of European integration and appreciated the discussion with the president of the PDM. “It is important to be directly informed by you about the developments in Moldova because some of your so-called friends present here incorrect information. We understand that they are angry because they are not in power,” said the S&D Group president Gianni Pittela.
Vlad Plahotniuc presented the draft law to ban Russian propaganda to the European partners, noting this is a vital measure for securing Moldova’s information area. The political leaders from the European Parliament said the EU does not want Moldova to be at odds with Russia, but Chisinau should protect its own in interests. Finally, it was decided that a debate on misinformation and propaganda, based on the Democratic Party’s proposal, will be held in the European Parliament in July.
