Moldovan legislature votes Law on Government in first reading

Chisinau, 30 June /MOLDPRES/ – The Parliament adopted in first reading the Draft Law on the Government today, elaborated in the context of the implementation of the central public administration reform, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

The document is one of the basic actions for the implementation of the principles of good governance in Moldova. As such, it is essential to strengthen the responsibilities of the public administration authorities by improving their management and ensuring the delivery of quality public services.

Among the main issues included in the new law are the division of political functions from those of administration, carried out by ministers, with the transfer of management functions to the competence of the General State Secretaries and State Secretaries. Similarly, it is stipulated the exclusion of the position of deputy minister and, in this context, the express replacement of the minister by another member of the Government, in other cases than the interim one, and in the current administration activities – by the general secretary of state and state secretaries.

Another amendment provides for omitting lists of ministries and other central administrative authorities, and granting the Prime Minister the right to amend their list by a simplified procedure. The document also provides a clear statement of the Government's functions, powers and areas of activity, and strengthening the capabilities of the State Chancellery as a "Centre of Government".

The draft also provides for the strengthening of the principles of integrity in the appointment of the members of the Executive, the clear regulation of the cases of termination of the position of a member of the Government, and the application of a new legal terminology adjusted to the developments in law.

Presenting the draft to the Legislature, Iurie Ciocan, the director of the Centre for Reform Implementation, said that the document passed all the procedures laid down by the legislation: approval, coordination, examination at the meeting of the Government, international expertise and consultations with civil society.