Moldova Adopts NGO Law, Releases EU Financial Aid

After weeks of delays caused by pro-Russian political forces, parliament in Moldova on Thursday adopted an EU -sought law on NGO funding and activities with the support of 95 of 101 deputies.

The law says that during election campaigns, NGOs will not be able to provide any services or offer material support to election candidates, or campaign for them. They may only promote elections, organise electoral debates and monitor elections.

The bill was adopted after the Judiciary Committee of parliament examined almost 100 amendments on the draft submitted by civil society groups and deputies.

Both President Igor Dodon and Prime Minister Ion Chicu earlier spoke out against adoption of the law, arguing that foreign powers should not have the right to mingle in Moldovan internal affairs.

The pro-Moscow Socialist Party and President Dodon are important political beneficiaries of foundations. The "From the Heart" foundation is led by Dodon's wife, Galina while the "I love Moldova" NGO is led by the Socialist deputy Corneliu Furculita, a childhood friend of Dodon's.

The funding of these two entities was never very transparent, Dodon claiming that the money came from unnamed Russian and Moldovan businessmen.

After entering into force, the law also will cut the time and bureaucratic procedures needed to register an NGO in Moldova.

The law was one of a package of laws sought by Brussels in respect of the Association Agreement it signed with Moldova in 2014, before it would release 30 million euros of financial aid to Chisinau.

The government is increasingly short of money owing to an economic downturn linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. A pro-EU MP, Siegfried Muresan, on Thursday reminded parliament that the EU remained ready to...