The two chambers of Parliament will meet on Saturday to validate the mandates of the newly-elected representatives

The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, in the formula resulting from the parliamentary elections, held separate plenary sittings on Friday in order to set up the committees to validate the mandates. Representatives of SOS Romania, elected for the first time in the legislature, sang carols in the halls of the parliament, while AUR MEPs displayed placards in the sitting room calling for free elections. At the end of the sittings, validation committees were set up to finalize reports.

Iulia Gherman gives details: "The first plenary session of the Senate was chaired by Social Democrat Ion Stan, who called for cooperation between the political parties represented in the new legislature in order to respect democracy and the national interest.

Ion Stan: "Let's build a climate of calm, peace and credibility, which is necessary for both society and the economy. Let's put the safety of citizens, economic development and strengthening social balance first."

Also in the Chamber of Deputies, the sitting president, UDMR MP Seres Denes, emphasized that the newly elected representatives have a great responsibility for the future of the country.

Seres Denes: "Today, in a chamber where 35% of MPs represent extreme right-wing parties, it is essential to take responsibility for safeguarding democratic values and the unity of society. That virulent rhetoric, which promotes the division of society and rejection of the program, will not solve Romania's problems."

In both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, mandate validation commissions have been set up, which will analyze all the documents submitted by MPs, the unresolved appeals received from the Central Electoral Office and those that have not been finalized according to the law. The committees' reports will be submitted to both chambers for approval on Saturday, after which validated senators and deputies will be sworn in."

Translated by: Radu Matei