Moldovan ministers to act as MPs for six months
Moldovan cabinet members will be able to combine the positions of minister and MP for up to 6 months, according to amendments the Moldovan parliament passed on 20 October.
The author of the legislative initiative, Mihai Godea of the faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, said that "these are going to be only minor amendments to the legislation". He said that previously legislation included a provision on the matter, but it covered only cases when a deputy was going to work in the government "temporarily".
Now we offer to fix this rule legally and to indicate a concrete timing for the combination of posts from one to six months, Godea said.
The Communists bitterly criticized the initiative. MP Iurie Stoicov said that "the government members fear that the ruling Alliance for European Integration may split up at any moment and the government might be dissolved".
"They want to have guarantees that if this happens they will have the right to return to parliament," Stoicov said.
Communist MP Vadim Misin said that "no law can be retroactive".
"The government members should have given in their MP seats back on 25 September. Regardless of whether this law is adopted or not, they must resign. And the provisions we are debating today must apply only to future parliaments and governments," Misin said.
Nonetheless, the majority faction hinted that the provision may be used by the current ministers as well.
"The time stipulated by legislation [for ministers to given in their MP posts] has not expired yet. Accordingly, it may be extended. I assure you that none of the ministers will receive two salaries," Prime Minister and MP Vlad Filat said.
The MPs of the ruling alliance approved the amendments in two readings at a time.
Nine ministers of the current government are also MPs. Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca is in an incompatibility situation too. Chirtoaca, who is the deputy leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party, has tendere d resignation but his application has not been discussed by parliament.
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