PAS MPs Vasile Grădinaru, Ana Calinici and Igor Talmazan announced at a press conference that, following public consultations, the Draft Code on the organization and functioning of Parliament has been submitted, TRIBUNA reports.

Key provisions of the draft Parliamentary Code:

• The political configuration of Parliament may not be altered. Unaffiliated MPs who leave a faction will not be able to join another faction.
• Parliamentary factions may not be formed by political parties that did not enter Parliament following the electoral vote, nor by parties that are banned or declared unconstitutional.
• The new Parliamentary Code introduces a “Government Hour.” During ordinary sessions, the Standing Bureau will designate a day for political debates with the participation of ministers or the prime minister.
• Debates will take place at the request of opposition or majority factions at least once a month. The draft also proposes introducing an “Opposition Day.” For the first plenary meeting of every sixth week of the parliamentary session, the Standing Bureau will include on the agenda topics proposed by opposition factions, independent MPs, and MPs from the opposition.
• The draft also regulates the debate time allocated to agenda items. The Standing Bureau will set the time based on the complexity of the subjects. It will also determine, in agreement with faction leaders and committee chairs, the time at which voting will take place.
• The document sets rules for speaking time during plenary sessions. Factions will have up to 5 minutes, and individual MPs up to 3 minutes. For statements on topics not included on the agenda, factions will have 7 minutes and MPs 5 minutes. The draft also proposes that the question‑and‑answer session during debates last 60 minutes, with the possibility of extension by a majority vote.
• The draft Code also establishes that the working language of the legislature is Romanian.