Moldovan parliament speaker meets PACE co-rapporteurs

Chisinau, 29 June /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova’s progress and challenges recorded in implementing the Roadmap on the priority reforms’ agenda were discussed at a meeting between Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu and Co-rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Ögmundur Jonásson, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.    

The discussions were focused on the parliament’s agenda and current policy, work of the law-enforcement institutions of Moldova, developments in the relations with the Transnistrian region and Gagauzian autonomy, including the actions of the parliament’s working group with the people’s assembly (local parliament) of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (UTA Gagauzia) and parliamentary platform of consultation and parliamentary control for carrying out the policy of Moldova’s reintegration.    

The speaker referred to recent amendments and completions to the Electoral Code, in order to prepare the national legislative framework for the presidential polls, due on 30 October 2016. Andrian Candu stressed that the priority for the parliament represented the adoption, till 31 July 2016, of legislative packages for speeding up reforms in justice, strengthening the financial and banking system, creating friendly conditions for the business environment, including by reducing the number of institutions with control duties. According to the speaker, on the immediately next period, the parliament is to consider a new draft Audiovisual Code. He noted that public discussions and consultations on the issue were organized with development partners.      

“The law system reform is the most difficult one of all the spectrum of reforms we must implement and Moldova has political will to carry them out. The parliament adopted more legislative amendments, including the ones on the integrity package, which bring a new approach in this sector; yet, we need a new system of fighting corruption,” Andrian Candu said.   

Co-rapporteur of the PASCE Monitoring Committee Ögmundur Jonásson Coraportorul encouraged the Moldovan authorities to implement the reforms assumed, stressing that PACE kept a close eye on the evolution of the situation in Moldova.

“The mission of the PACE co-rapporteurs is to make Moldova batter. We want to see continuity in the actions fulfilled and acceleration in liquidating the arrears,” Ögmundur Jonásson said. The PACE official voiced intention to visit Moldova next autumn, to monitor the presidential elections.  

A subject of the discussions was focused on recent cases of the former Moldovan prime minister, Vlad Filat, ex-member of PACE, Grigore Petrenco, Orhei city mayor Ilan Shor and judge Domnica Manole.  

The co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Valentina Leskaj and Ögmundur Jonásson paid a fact-collecting visit to Moldova on 27-29 June.   

(Editor L. Alcaza)