Ghimpu, Voronin ask discharging economy commission chairman

The Liberal Party head Mihai Ghimpu Thursday repeatedly asked that lawmaker Veaceslav Ionita be dismissed from the post of chairman of the parliamentary commission on economy, budget and finance. This time he was supported by the leader of the Communist Party. Vladimir Voronin said Mihai Ghimpu convinced him that Ionita is to blame for the damage of about 6 million lei caused to the state budget, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vladimir Voronin stated that during the break he had a constructive discussion with the Liberal leader, who substantiated his assertion that Veaceslav Ionita is to blame. He stressed the Communist group made a mistake when they voted against Ionita’s dismissal last week, when the Liberal group put forward such a proposal. Head of Parliament Marian Lupu said he can initiate the procedure again only at the next sitting of the legislature. Last week, Veaceslav Ionita managed to keep his post owing to the support provided by the Liberal-Democratic and Communist groups. The Democrat and Liberal lawmakers voted in favor of Ionita’s dismissal. They accused the MP of pursuing certain goals when he included the amendment whereby the casino tax was decreased from 360,000 to 180,000 lei in the law. As a result of this change, incomes of about 6 million lei failed to be collected into the state budget. This February, the lawmakers restored the old tax for casinos.