The unaffiliated MPs of the group of Iurie Leanca proposed a legislative initiative allowing lawmakers to voluntarily renounce parliamentary immunity. In the October 21 meeting of the legal commission for appointments and immunities, MP Eugen Carpov said similar initiatives had been already put forward, but they weren’t accepted for the reason that they provided for the amendment of the Constitution. Al alternative was now found given that most of the MPs of all the parliamentary groups said they do not need immunity, IPN reports.

According to the lawmaker, in the German Bundestag the MPs are offered the possibility of voluntarily renouncing the immunity at the beginning of each legislature. The bill proposed by the unaffiliated MPs enables the current MP to renounce immunity and allows the MPs of the future legislatures to decide on this by themselves.

Only the commission members on the part of the Democratic Party supported this proposal. MP Sergiu Sarbu said this is a good opportunity given that they didn’t manage to amend the Constitution so far. “I do not need parliamentary immunity. As the Constitution offers me the right to enjoy this protection, the legislation should also offer me the right to renounce it,” he stated.

The MPs of the other factions didn’t support the initiative, even if they said that they do not need immunity. The Communists said this is a populist bill, while the Liberals stated that it is outdated. The Socialist and Liberal-Democratic MPs noted the Constitution should be amended so that it allows for the abolition of parliamentary immunity.

The commission’s head Raisa Apolschii, of the Democratic Party, said this bill enables to hold discussions on the issue, including with civil society, which should say how it is better to renounce parliamentary immunity.