Former Liberal Democrats set up People's European Group in Moldovan parliament
CHISINAU. April 12 (Interfax) - Independent deputies elected to the parliament on the ballot of the Liberal Democratic Party have set up the People's European Group which will advocate a conservative European doctrine, as they said.
The formation of the group was announced at a Wednesday briefing by chairman of the European People's Party, former Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and deputy Valeriu Ghiletchi who came to head the new group.
"We decided to set up an influential group of deputies in parliament that will promote European values. We will stand for preserving the European path and the introduction of reforms necessary for Moldova and implied by its Association Agreement with the EU," Leanca said noting that the group comprises nine independent deputies elected on the ballot of the Liberal Democratic Party.
He called it a long-term project and said that the group will operate on the platform of the European People's Party and actively cooperate with other parties to achieve these objectives.
"We discussed the situation and concluded that it is necessary to set up such a group, particularly to consolidate right-wing forces that are now going through an acute crisis. Together with these colleagues we advocated European integration also in the course of the election campaign on the platform of the Liberal Democratic Party. We are open to cooperation and do not rule out that other deputies may join the group," Leanca said.
Ghiletchi said that the group he heads will be the fourth in size in parliament. "The formation of groups by independent deputies is implied by a Constitutional Court ruling. We decided to unite to advocate common tasks and objectives together," he said.
He said the group will advocate "a conservative European doctrine."
Participants in the briefing refused to express their attitude to changes in the electoral system and to their relations with the government or answer other questions. They promised to speak on the subjects later.
In the November 30, 2014 election the Liberal Democratic Party won 23 out of 101 seats in parliament and became the core of the ruling pro-European coalition. However, the party started disintegrating after its leader, former prime minister Vlad Filat was sentenced to nine years of jail on charges of corruption last year. Now eight deputies remain in the Liberal Democratic faction. Last week six other former Liberal Democrats joined the Democratic Party faction. Democrats who won 19 seats in the election now control 40.