CHIŞINĂU (Imedia) - The Alliance for European Integration (AEI) and the Party of Communists (PC) need to reach a consensus and make a common decision about changing Article 78 in the Constitution, said interim President Mihai Ghimpu on May 6, right after he came back from Strasbourg, where he met with Venice Commission (VC) head Gianni Buquicchio and other European officials.
Mr. Ghimpu has argued that if no common denominator is reached, Moldovan political parties will have to resume talks with the VC about a way to overcome the crisis. The interim President did not deny the possibility of the AEI and the PC working on a common project together.
Article 78 in the Constitution regulates the election of the head of state. At the moment, there are two amendment projects.
The Communist-elaborated one seeks the election of the President in Parliament with a three-round election that ultimately allows legislators to pick a candidate with a simple majority (52 M.P.s) instead of three fifths, as it is now (61 M.P.s).
The AEI's proposal is to elect the head of state directly by citizens.
The Constitution can only be changed with the votes of at least 68 M.P.s. Neither the Alliance, nor the Communists hold that many seats in the legislature.
Commentary:
Igor Botan: Mihai Ghimpu „knew very well how the VC would react"
Igor Botan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy, believes that Mr. Ghimpu "knew very well how the VC would react and that early elections are inevitable, but he went there to have an excuse in front of his electorate."
„Mr. Ghimpu is building the image of an intransigent leader, with a strong backbone, with dignity, and so on. At the same time, he is making compromises everywhere, but only after he makes tough statements. After that, either Alliance colleagues or international institutions say that his ideas aren't good, and he conforms with them, gaining twice - he looks like both an instransigent leader with a strong backbone and is willing to compromise. This is the game Mr. Ghimpu is playing and I think that his advisors are telling him to do this. These are electoral games," Mr. Botan notes.
The expert argues that Article 78 will be changed by the time early elections are held.
„Moldova has reached its hang out to the European Commission and is hoping to get what was promised to it if it respects certain rules. I think that the Prime Minister will be the one who will remind Mr. Ghimpu and other Alliance colleagues that he needs to govern a country and that everyone will have to find a compromise. They will be making tough statements, they will put on a show, but they will ultimately vote for the PC's project to change Article 78 in the Constitution. Particularly since the PC had the inspiration to make the proposal first and now the AEI will go around Strasbourg to say what was obvious from the outset," Mr. Botan explains.
Vlad Lupan: The topic of presidential elections and constitutional reform will have to somewhat be resumed after early elections
Vlad Lupan, an independent expert, says that „Mihai Ghimpu's statement means that the AEI will have to find a dialogue with the PC about an optimal solution to change Article 78 and to clearly decide when it could get that solution - before or after early elections."
„Of course, the AEI's current position toward changing Article 78 does not fit the PC's, and I don't see how such a consensus will be possible. The VC's message ultimately clearly says that both parties involved in the process - both the AEI and the PC - need to reach a compromise. So, both the Alliance and the Communists should compromise. I am not sure such compromise will be possible considering the fact that the problem of elections is a very important topic for the PC and probably for some members of the Alliance. SO even if changing Article 78 is necessary and logical, that does not mean it will definitely happen," Mr. Lupan adds.
„The Alliance could, however, prove that it is capable of negotiations and a dialogue with the PC up to the point of accepting of provisional compromise solution about voting for the President, but only for the period that comes right after early elections," Mr. Lupan stresses.
„The subject of the presidential election and of constitutional reform will have to somehow remain an important topic for politicians and will have to be resumed after early elections," Mr. Lupan concludes.
Petru Bogatu: The PC is afraid of direct presidential elections, which is why the Communists do not want to make concessions
Petru Bogatu, a political commentator, said in a Jurnal de Chisinau editorial that "the PC is afraid of direct presidential elections, which is why the Communists do not want to make concessions."
"If the AEI does not compromise either, early elections will be called without having revised Article 78 in the Constitution, which could harm the Government more than the opposition, both internally and externally. Why? Because VC experts have said that authorities should initially only simplify the mode of election of the head of state. But the AEI's project for a direct presidential election does not respect that recommendation. On the contrary, the Alliance's solution complicates things, despite the fact that it is constitutional. Under these circumstances, the governing coalition could support changing Article 78 based on the PC's proposal. The AEI's project, moreover, does not actually change the governing system in the country and keeps the presidential system.
In this way, the ruling coalition can use a surprise weapon called the Queen's gambit in chess. That is, by making subtle temporary sacrifices, it can then convert them into a tactical advantage. By showing responsibility and a reasonable spirit, the AEI would have things to gain in front of the electorate and in front of international observersl," Mr. Bogatu concludes.
File:
PC lawyer Sergiu Sirbu said during a TV show on May 6 that the PC is waiting for guarantees from European institutions that the Moldovan legislature will be dissolved.
"We are at least waiting for a political statement about dissolving Parliament and then we will sit down to talk. We would like for the election date to be clear and for a mechanism of guarantee to exist from European institutions," Mr. Sirbu added.
Mr. Sirbu also explained that the PC would register its proposal to change Article 78 in the Constitution on May 10 because, according to legislation, it could be amended after six months.
