The Popular Assembly of Gagauzia, an autonomous region in southern Moldova, has called upon its residents to boycott the referendum the ruling majority in Chisinau has decided to hold on September 5 to amend Article 78 in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova.
The regional legislature issued a Statement expressing indignation with “the regular statements made by Mr. Mihai Ghimpu upon the silent consent of his colleagues from the governing Alliance for European Integration, with their reluctance to dissolve parliament and to hold an early parliamentary election, as is demanded by the Moldovan Constitution”.
“We presume that the Alliance’s decision on holding the referendum on amending the presidential election procedure is a consequence of the anti-popular policy the new authorities are waging to preserve the mandate of incumbent parliament deputies from the ruling alliance, whose ultimate objective is unification of Moldova and Romania in order to deprive our state of its independence and sovereignty”, said the Popular Assembly’s Statement.
The regional legislature said their boycott is aimed at protecting the Gagauzia autonomy against possible encroachments on Gagauzia’s legal status, and on the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova.
“Our compatriots support the need for electing president by citizens’ general vote. For this, we believe, it is in expedient to hold a consultation with the populace by means of a nation-wide referendum that will cost dozens of million lei. We suggest that the Parliament and acting president should introduce necessary amendments to the Constitution so as to elect a head of state with a direct voting and to disband the current Parliament. We think it is necessary to combine presidential and parliamentary elections”, reads the Gagauzia Popular Assembly’s Statement.