Moldovan PM, speaker criticize president's Statehood Day initiative
CHISINAU. Feb 3 (Interfax) - Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip has criticized President Igor Dodon's idea to establish the Day of Moldovan Statehood.
"This will deepen division in society," Filip told reporters.
"Politicians should be discussing subjects which unite citizens," he said, adding, "no matter who speaks about statehood, the flag, identity and language, everyone wants to have a good life, access to quality public services and worthy pensions and salaries. We need to solve these problems," the prime minister said.
"Moldova already has enough holidays and should probably think about their optimization," he said.
In turn, Moldovan Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu told reporters that "Moldova had more important matters to deal with than the establishment of new holidays."
"Mr. President is entitled to submit legislative initiatives, but it is a prerogative of the parliament to process and to approve them," he said.
As to Dodon's proposal that the historical Moldovan flag (a red flag depicting a bull's head) should be reinstated, the speaker said, "Moldova has only one flag, and it should be invariable."
On Thursday, the Moldovan president proposed the establishment of a new national holiday, Statehood Day, to be observed on February 2. He also called for instituting the historical flag of the Moldovan Principality as a national symbol.
The president said he would discuss the initiatives with civil society and would submit relevant legislative initiatives shortly.
