Venice Commission warns Moldova's new parliamentary code risks undermining opposition

The Venice Commission has issued warnings regarding Moldova’s proposed Code on the Organisation and Functioning of Parliament, stating that the new regulations could allow the parliamentary majority to exert excessive control over legislative activities at the expense of the opposition.

European experts expressed concern that the draft code could enable the majority to remove opposition representatives from leadership positions, such as committee chairs and the Deputy Speaker, through simple majority votes. The Commission noted that such provisions risk making opposition representation a mere formality and could limit parliamentary oversight of the government.

The Commission also criticized the haste of the legislative process, noting that Parliament adopted the Code in its second reading in August 2026 before the experts could present their formal recommendations. To ensure democratic standards, the Commission recommends that changes to parliamentary procedures require a broader majority and that opposition factions receive proportional representation in key bodies, including the Permanent Bureau and standing committees.