Members of the PCRM-PSRM opposition said that most probably, they will not vote in favor of the bill to amend the Constitution and exclude the immunity enjoyed by MPs. Socialist heavyweight Grigore Novac said that different abuses in relation to the opposition MPs would be committed if immunity is excluded. For their part, representatives of the government said the exclusion of the parliamentary immunity for acts of corruption would facilitate the clearing of the political class of corrupt MPs, IPN reports.
Under the bill initiated by PAS MPs, lawmakers can be stripped of immunity and arrested without the Parliament’s consent if they commit acts of corruption or other illegalities.
“The Constitutional Court endorsed the bill to annul parliamentary immunity and this will enter the legislative procedure. The bill provides that if the MP breaks the law, the Prosecutor General will not need to every time come to Parliament to ask to lift the immunity of this MP. It goes to acts of corruption and other illegalities. If there is a parliamentary majority and one MP breaks the law, the given majority can ensure protection for this MP. In such cases, the prosecutor can take the MP directly from home and will not need to come to Parliament to ask to lift his/her immunity,” PAS lawmaker Lilian Carp stated in the talk show “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.
The opposition MPs noted the amendment of the Supreme Law is inopportune as every time the Prosecutor General asked to lift someone’s immunity, Parliament accepted such a request.
“The striping of immunity can generate abuses on the part of the political rivals or the police. If the coming of an MP to Parliament does not suit someone, a frame-up can be staged to prevent this from siting in Parliament, to make so that this is short of one vote or that this person cannot present a bill. I do not remember cases in the Republic of Moldova when the Prosecutor General asked to lift the immunity of an MP and Parliament refused to vote. We do not see reasons for adopting this bill,” said MP of the PCRM-PSRM bloc Grigore Novac.
The bills to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova can be adopted by Parliament by the votes of two thirds of the 101 MPs. The PAS parliamentary majority consists of 63 MPs. Currently, the Supreme Law provides that the MPs cannot be arrested and searched, except for cases when the person is caught red-handed or is sent to court without the Parliament’s consent.
