2 Feb 2023 13:50

Moldovan opposition demands ending state of emergency

CHISINAU. Feb 2 (Interfax) - The opposition Bloc of Communists and Socialists in the Moldovan parliament called on Thursday for removing the state of emergency's extension from the plenary meeting's agenda.

Bloc MP Grigore Novac proposed going back to "normal legislative process," but the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) did not support the initiative.

The Moldovan government asked the parliament on Wednesday to extend the state of emergency for another 60 days from February 4.

Moldova declared the state of emergency on February 24, 2022 and extended it five times for 60 days and once for 45 days. The latest extension was in late November, with the state of emergency due to expire on February 4.

All parliament factions voted unanimously to impose the state of emergency on February 24. However, only the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity voted for extension at later ballots, with the opposition seeing no need for the state of emergency. The Party of Socialists challenged the ruling majority's decisions at the Constitutional Court, but its applications were turned down.