MPs Set the Date for Parliamentary Elections

Speaker of the Parliament Andrian Candu noted that the elections are to be held in late February to give time for the Central Election Commission and the opposition to prepare for the elections under new electoral system, and prepare electoral bodies for this. According to the law, elections should be held within three months after expiration of the current parliament mandate, which expires on December, 1. So elections should be arranged no later than February, 28. For the first time in the Moldova’s history, elections of the next convocation of the parliament are to be held within the mixed electoral system. This means that 50 members of the legislative body will be elected from party lists, and 51 of them – on the basis of single-mandate constituencies. A year ago, the parliament approved the mixed electoral system at the second reading. 74 deputies voted for it – representatives of the ruling majority and the Socialist party. The Venice Commission, the EU and other Western partners of Moldova argued against the transition to the mixed system. 46 electoral districts have already been set up for the elections in Moldova, two of which are in Gagauzia, two are in Balti, one is in Taraclia, and eleven are in Chisinau. There will be two districts in the Transnistrian region of the country, which is not controlled by the central authorities. Three more ones will be created abroad: in the East and in the West of the Eurasian continent and one – in the US and Canada. Source: News Maker