PARLIAMENT PLENARY MEETING FAILS TO BE HELD DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM

Now that the coalition of the Party of Socialists (PSRM) and the Democratic Party has ceased to exist as a parliamentary majority, the Thursday’s plenary meeting of the legislative forum failed to be held due to a lack of quorum. The factions of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), of the DA Platform, of the Ilan Shor Party and the Pro Moldova group ignored the plenary sitting and thus upset it.

The former 2 right parties refused to come because they object to adopting laws by the Government’s assuming responsibility for them upon itself. On Thursday, the Parliament was to hear Prime Minister Ion Chicu who was going to present 4 laws adopted by the Government by using such procedure, which means that deputies cannot ask questions or discuss draft laws and are thus forced to agree with the Government. But if they disagree with the proposed bill, they may only vote no confidence in the Government and thus send it away.

“We disagree with such a procedure. We are ready to participate in a plenary meeting and vote for the proposed bills, but only on condition that we will thoroughly discuss them”, stated PAS faction chairman Igor Grosu.

This stance is shared also by the other faction in the ACUM bloc – of the DA Platform party. But DA keeps insisting on dismissing the Chicu Government and stands ready to assume responsibility for appointing a new Cabinet of Ministers.

So, the Thursday’s plenary meeting had to be cancelled because there were less than 50 MPs in the session room of the 101-member Moldovan legislature. A new plenary meeting has been scheduled for Friday.