Moldova Debates Changing Country's Electoral System

Moldova's current electoral system is in question as politicians and civil society activists debate a bill to replace the party list proportional representation system with a plurality or winner-takes-all system, which means voters would directly choose one candidate for their district.

The proposal, submitted at the beginning of March and discussed on Friday in parliament, came from the leader of the ruling Democratic Party, PDM, Vlad Plahotniuc.

The face that he is the country's richest and most controversial businessman, however, has fuelled concerns - including that parties with less financial resources would be disadvantaged.

Pro-European politicians say it is the only way to prevent President Igor Dodon's pro-Russian Socialist Party from winning a landslide in the next election.

According to the PDM bill, the Moldovan diaspora would also have its own representatives in the parliament. Voters in certain electoral districts would also hold right to dismiss their deputies if they deem them inefficient.

The PDM has started a campaign across Moldova whereby local members of the party explain to citizens what the new system would mean. "Your vote, your MP! You elect the man, not a list," the slogan of the campaign says.

"It's important to debate it; we're waiting for the first emotional reactions to calm down and we want a dialogue with arguments," Plahotniuc wrote on Facebook.

People need to "understand who the supporters of the current electoral system based on party lists are and what arguments they have to say that people should not directly elect their MPs," he added.

Action and Solidarity Party, PAS, the party of Dodon's former presidential rival, Maia Sandu, boycotted Friday's debate, however.

PAS said...