​PRESIDENT DODON SUGGESTS INTRODUCING MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN MOLDOVA

Moldovan President Igor Dodon has stood up with an initiative to introduce a mixed electoral system for parliamentary elections in Moldova.

Dodon stated at a press briefing on Tuesday: “I have decided to put forward a legislative initiative on introducing a mixed electoral system – 51 MPs to be elected on party lists and the rest 50 deputies – from one-mandate constituencies. Of the latter 50 deputies, I propose to be electing 25 from the Moldovan diaspora in foreign countries and from the Transnistrian region, and the other 25 MPs – from the rest of Moldova. As we cannot ensure the opening of polling stations on the left side of the Dniester River at the present time, we must ensure for Transnistrians necessary conditions for voting at polling stations working on the right Dniester side under the control of the Moldovan Central Election Commission”.

Dodon also proposed to permit Moldova citizens in foreign countries to vote during two days, and to provide each overseas polling station with 5,000 ballot-papers [currently – maximum 3,000 ballots].

“The number of polling stations abroad must correspond to the official information about the number of Moldova citizens staying in each given country. This means that in the Russian Federation we must open minimum 150 polling stations [currently 5], in Italy, with nearly 200 thousand Moldovans, – not less than 40 stations”, said the President.

Igor Dodon proposed also to let Moldovan students vote where they study, and not only in their home localities like now. For registration of candidates, Dodon proposes to submit minimum 600 citizen signatures, and not 1,500 as is being proposed by the supporters of the single-mandate system.

“I am calling on the Democratic Party to revoke from parliament their bill on introducing the single-mandate system. I hope the parliamentary majority will come to realize the risks and will cease insisting. We must begin discussing a new bill on the mixed electoral system. This would really be a decision in the current situation, for there is no other way”, emphasized the President.

He strongly criticized the Democratic Party’s initiative to introduce the majority system instead of the current proportional one. He called it a categorically unacceptable initiative and demanded to recall the bill from parliament.

“The ruling majority want to transit to the single-mandate system. We understand why the Democratic Party and its leader Vlad Plahotniuc are proposing this – because with the current system they have not even the least chance to remain at power. That’s why they are insisting on one-mandate constituencies”, stated Igor Dodon.

According to the information available with him, the governing majority are going to put up the DP bill to the vote, given that they already have under their banners 55 out of 101 deputies in the legislative forum, – without even waiting for a conclusion from the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

“I am stating with concern that the governing coalition intends to follow their path to the end. But this would be a crime against the democratic system. This would lead to liquidation of the multiparty system, i.e. would be a step back. I am categorically against the single-mandate system, I regard this to be a provocation against the democratic system of election holding, so I shall not permit this to happen”, stressed the head of state.