Moldova Parliament: 12th Legislature convenes for inaugural session
Moldova’s 12th parliament convenes today, 22 October, for its inaugural session, called by a decree signed by President Maia Sandu, following the validation of the September 28 election results by the Constitutional Court.
The session starts at 10:00 AM and is chaired by Zinaida Greceanîi, a deputy of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova. She was appointed as the substitute "Dean of Age" (the most senior deputy) after two other senior deputies, Communist leader Vladimir Voronin and PAS deputy Nicolae Botgros, declined to do so.
The event is being attended by President Maia Sandu, the elected deputies, members of the Constitutional Court and the Central Electoral Commission, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Chișinău.
Validation and presidential address
At the beginning of the session, the President of the Constitutional Court, Domnica Manole, will present the report on the election results and the validation of the mandates of the 101 elected deputies. Parliament is legally constituted once the report is presented. Subsequently, the Head of State, Maia Sandu, will address the new deputies.
Parliamentary groups and leadership
Following the legal constitution of Parliament, the formation of parliamentary groups (factions) will take place—a process that must be completed within 10 days. Each group must consist of at least five deputies, as stipulated by the Parliament's Regulations.
The next stage involves the election of the Speaker of Parliament, the Vice-Speakers, and the formation of the Permanent Bureau. A special commission will organise the Speaker election procedure.
The Speaker's investiture is a ceremony, marked by the raising and handover of the official Standard by the substitute senior deputy. The flag is carried by the Honor Guard, and a copy is offered to the former Speaker.
After the election of the leadership, Parliament will establish the number of Vice-Speakers and approve the composition of the Permanent Bureau, which will then decide on the establishment of the permanent parliamentary committees. The number, name, and composition of these committees will be approved by a plenary vote.
Composition of the new parliament
The 12th parliament is composed of 101 deputies:
55 elected on the lists of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS),
26 from the Patriotic Electoral Bloc,
eight from the Alternativa Bloc,
six from "Our Party",
six from the "Democracy at Home" Party.
The mandates of the deputies and the election results were confirmed by the Constitutional Court at the end of last week.
The inaugural session is being broadcast live by Radio Moldova and Moldova 1 state media.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
