Moldovan MPs to be deprived of parliamentary immunity

Chisinau, 30 March /MOLDPRES/ – Members of Parliament will be deprived of parliamentary immunity, according to a bill adopted in first reading by Parliament today.

The initiative provides the deletion of paragraph (3) of article 70 of the Constitution of Moldova. Similarly, the change will not limit MPs independence and shall not affect the right to freedom of opinion and vote, which is referred to article 71 of the Supreme Law of Moldova. As such, the MP will not be held to criminal, civil or contravention responsibility for the votes or opinions expressed in the execution of the warrant.

In the debate, the Socialist and Communist representatives noted that the "amendments to the Constitution will encourage abuses against members and affect their independence".

Liberal Democrat, Vadim Pistrinciuc said that the number of cases of impunity of MPs was very unimportant, so there were clear "reasons that caused the need for this amendment."

Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu said he would support the legislative change on one condition – "if international courts will reason the member of parliament, prosecutor and judge to be punished. We propose amending the Criminal Code, because there are real abuses," said Ghimpu.

Additionally, one of the project’s authors, Democrat member Sergiu Sirbu said that all had to be equal in front of the law. "Not a single innocent person will have to suffer, the document having no scope to persecute parliamentarians", said Sirbu.

Currently, the law provides that the MP can not be detained, arrested, searched, except for flagrant offences, or prosecuted without the Parliament’s consent. The initiative was endorsed earlier by the Constitutional Court.

(Reporter Plitoc A., editor M. Jantovan)