LIVE TEXT // Moldova's parliament of 12th legislative period constituted: procedure to elect parliament speaker starts

The parliament of the 12th legislative period has been legally constituted. At the first meeting, 100 out of the 101 deputies elected on party lists at the parliamentary elections of September 28 announced their presence. Six parliamentary factions were set up. The action and Solidarity Party (PAS) announced the formation of the parliamentary majority with 55 deputies. Five parliamentary factions declared themselves in opposition. President Maia Sandu made a call to all MPs, urging them to work towards fulfilling the goal of European integration, as stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova.

Update 13:23 After a break of about an hour, the special commission for the election of the Parliament Speaker met and appointed Veronica Rosca as chairwoman of the commission, and Alexandru Berlinschi was elected as the commission’s secretary.

The special commission informed the deputies about the rules for nominating candidates for the position of parliament speaker. “The proposal is signed by all deputies who support the candidacy put forward, as well as by the deputy proposed for the position of parliament speaker,” stated Veronica Rosca. 

Deputies will return in half an hour (14:00) to elect the Parliament Speaker.

Update 12:52 PAS leader Igor Grosu is the parliamentary majority's candidate for the position of Parliament Speaker.

“The National Political Council of PAS, at a proposal by the standing bureau, nominated my candidacy for the position of parliament speaker. It will be seen in Parliament. We have several factions, and they can nominate their own candidates,” Igor Grosu told journalists.

Update 12:00 The special commission for the election of the parliament speaker of the 12th legislature period has been constituted. The Commission members retired to a meeting. A 30-minute break was announced. 

Update 11:52 The procedure for electing the Parliament Speaker has been initiated

Update 11:47 The factions of the Party of Socialists (PSRM), Party of Communists (PCRM), Alternative, Our Party (PN) and Democracy at Home Party (PPDA) declared themselves in opposition.

Update 11:46 The declaration regarding the creation of the parliamentary majority made up of the deputies who accessed the PAS list. Doina Gherman: “We declare the formation of the parliamentary majority in the parliament of the 12th legislative period.”

Update 11:44 Six parliamentary factions were constituted: PAS Faction - 55 deputies; PSRM Faction - 17 deputies; PCRM Faction - 8 deputies; Alternative Faction - 8 deputies; Our Party Faction - 6 deputies; Democracy at Home Political Party Faction - 6 deputies.

Update 11:36 The Democracy at Home Political Party created the parliamentary faction with six MPs. Vasile Costiuc will be the faction’s president, vice president - Sergiu Stefanco, secretary - Ana Turcanu. 

Vasile Costiuc: “The society, when it goes to vote, ties some expectations. I would like to see more cooperation in this legislature. We are a relatively young party, but we have shown remarkable consistency. You will have a truly pro-European opposition.” 

Update 11:31 Renato Usatii announced the creation of the Our Party faction in the parliament of Moldova, made up of six people. The faction’s president will be Renato Usatii, vice president Elena Gritco, secretary - Alexandru Berlinschi.

Renato Usatii: “I will not give a speech, I hope that, at Bureau meetings, we will talk about laws, I hope we will unite society. I would like us to have another parliament, so that the initiatives of those in power and the opposition are supported. PN will support any fundamental initiative for the state Republic of Moldova.” 

Update 11:24 Ion Ceban announced the formation of the Alternative faction, made up of eight lawmakers. The faction’s president will be Gaik Vartanean, vice president - Olga Ursu, secretary - Liliana Iaconi.

Ion Ceban: “The Alternativa Faction will be the voice of the people here in the parliament of Moldova and will work solely in the interest of the citizens and the state. The Alternative faction represents a true opposition. We will advocate for the depoliticization of state institutions, fighting corruption.”  

Update 11:20 Deputy Vasile Tarlev, who accessed parliament on the Patriotic Bloc's list, announced that he would not affiliate with any faction and would continue his activity as a deputy of the Future of Moldova party: I will not fight against anyone, I will fight for the country and the traditions of Moldovans.” 

Update 11:12 Deputy Diana Caraman announced the formation of the faction of the Party of Communists, made up of eight deputies. The faction’s president will be Diana Caraman, vice president Valeriu Muduc, secretary - Andrei Godoroja.

Diana Caraman: “Concern for a better future will be the main concern of the faction of the Party of Communists in parliament. The Party of Communists considers that the elections were neither free nor democratic. We will initiate consultations on creating an opposition coalition.”

Update 11:01 PSRM President Igor Dodon: “The deputies elected on the Patriotic Bloc's list of 17 people have decided to establish the Socialists’ faction.” Igor Dodon will lead the PSRM faction in parliament, vice president of the faction - Zinaida Greceanii, faction’s secretary - Darovannaia Ala.

Igor Dodon: “The Parliament will show courage and will succeed in defending the rule of law. Moldovans have put their hope that we will defend the country, the Constitution. We, the opposition deputies, will need character and courage, because things have degenerated seriously, democracy must be released from captivity, state institutions must be brought back into the service of the people.”

Update 10:53 Party and electoral bloc leaders who accessed Parliament read out statements on the formation of factions and the list of deputies.

The PAS Faction will have 55 deputies. The faction’s president will be Doina Gherman, vice presidents - Lilian Carp, Ion Groza.

Doina Gherman: “I want to thank all Moldovans who went to vote. Dear Moldovans, you were united, brave and dignified to defend the country from danger. The parliament of the 12th legislative period will be the parliament of Moldova's accession to the European Union.”

Update 10:53 Doina Gherman, PAS deputy: “The PAS Faction is constituted.” PSRM, PCRM, BE Alternative, Our Party, Democracy at Home Party leaders declared that they are ready to announce the formation of the factions.

Update 10:50 The procedure for forming parliamentary factions was announced. According to the Parliamentary Regulation, factions can be constituted from at least five members. A deputy cannot be part of two or more factions. Parties and Electoral Blocs that accessed Parliament have 10 days to form parliamentary factions. 

Update 10:30 Maia Sandu: “The new Legislature is called to fulfill the objective inscribed in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova to lead the country into the European Union.”





Therefore, I call on you to contribute to the harmonization of the national legal framework with the European one and to assume a sustained pace of adopting the necessary normative acts to advance the negotiation process, so that the Treaty of Accession to the European Union can be signed during the legislative period which  started today. 

I urge the parties in the new legislature to loyally and in good faith support the European integration process of Moldova. Such a commitment would also be a signal of your attachment to the objective of profound modernization of our state.”

Update 10:24 President Maia Sandu is giving a speech in Parliament:

“We are at the beginning of a journey - in a newly elected parliament, entrusted by citizens with the country's fate for the next four years but, more than anything else, with the mission to maintain peace in Moldova. It is a beginning that carries within it the hopes and trust of the people, but also the duty to meet their expectations.”





Update 10:23 Zinaida Greceanii: “The parliament of the 12th legislative period is considered legally constituted.”

 

Update 10:13 Constitutional Court President Domnica Manole presents the report on the elections’ results and validation of the elected MPs' mandates.

Domnica Manole: “The Constitutional Court has enshrined the sovereign will of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and opened the way for the full exercise of the newly elected parliament's mandate. Your mandate is the direct expression of the people's will and the mission that befalls you is of great dignity and responsibility.” 





 

Update 10:09 The constitution session of the parliament of the 12th legislative period has been declared open. Deputies elected on the party lists at the September 28 election intoned the anthem and honored the state flag of the Republic of Moldova.

Zinaida Greceanii: “I note that the session of the parliament of the 12th legislative period gathers the necessary quorum and is deliberative. I declare open the session of the parliament of the 12th legislative period.” Greceanii urged deputies to exercise their mandate responsibly: “The parliament does not represent a single party but an entire society.”

At the session, the presence of 100 out of 101 deputies was registered. 

Update 10:05 The parliament of the 12th legislative period convened at its constitution session. According to the parliament's regulation, the session is chaired by the alternate senior member, Zinaida Greceanii, former parliament speaker, after the communist leader, Vladimir Voronin, refused to exercise this mission.

 





IFrame

Initial report

The parliament elected on September 28 convenes today in its inaugural session, which will be chaired by the alternate senior member, Zinaida Greceanii. The session will be attended by the head of state, Maia Sandu, who will deliver a speech.

In addition to the President of the Republic of Moldova, the session, which will start at 10:00, will be attended by members of the Constitutional Court, the Central Electoral Commission and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Chisinau.

At the beginning of the session, Constitutional Court President Domnica Manole will present the report on the election results and validation of the elected deputies' mandates. From the moment this report is presented, the Parliament is considered legally constituted.

Afterward, President Maia Sandu will address a message to the deputies of the 12th Legislature Parliament.

The next stage involves forming parliamentary factions. They are constituted within ten days after the legal constitution of Parliament and are composed of at least five deputies.

The election of the Parliament Speaker, vice presidents, and the formation of the standing bureau will follow. The parliament, at the proposal of the parliamentary factions, establishes a commission for electing the Parliament Speaker. Once elected, the head of the Legislature takes over the plenary session's leadership.

The investiture of the Speaker of Parliament has a ceremonial character, marked by the handing of the Parliament Speaker's Standard by the alternate senior member. The Standard is carried by the Honor Guard, and a copy is given to the former Parliament Speaker.

The session continues with setting the number of Parliament vice presidents and their election by name. Candidacies are nominated by parliamentary factions, in accordance with political representation. Later, the numeric and nominal composition of the parliament's standing bureau will be established.

The standing bureau will decide on the establishment of standing commissions. The number of commissions, their name, numeric and nominal composition of each commission will be established by the parliament, at the proposal of the standing bureau.

Following the September 28 election, six political formations exceeded the electoral threshold and will enter parliament: Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) – 55 mandates; Patriotic Bloc – 26 mandates; Alternative Bloc – eight mandates; Our Party– six mandates; Democracy at Home Party – six mandates.