Moldova's Draft Resolution on EU Accession Referendum Reaches Parliament
A draft resolution proposing the organisation of a Republican Constitutional Referendum on Moldova's accession to the European Union, initiated by President Maia Sandu in late 2023, has been submitted to Parliament.
Legislators will examine the document next week, according to a statement released by the Moldovan legislature.
The constitutional referendum on Moldova's EU membership was initiated by President Sandu to gauge public support for European integration. The referendum and the proposed constitutional amendment aim to declare Moldova's aspirations for EU membership, solidify the country's orientation towards the European value system, and establish European integration as a strategic national objective.
On April 16 of this year, the Constitutional Court approved the holding of the plebiscite. The question posed to Moldovan voters will be: "Do you support the Republic of Moldova's accession to the European Union?" The Constitution will also be amended to include a new title: "Integration into the European Union." Following the Court's decision, Constitutional Court President Domnica Manole stated that the referendum results will hold supreme legislative power and will not require an additional vote in Parliament.
Referendum and Presidential Election to Coincide This Fall
Moldovan citizens will cast ballots for both the EU accession referendum and the country's next president this fall. The parliamentary majority, comprised of PAS deputies, amended the Electoral Code to allow both votes to be held on the same day.
Following the Constitutional Court's decision on April 16, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu announced that the presidential election and the EU accession referendum would be held together on October 20. However, the legislative body has not yet formally confirmed this date.
Parliament Speaker Grosu declared that "2024 will be a historic year," while the Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BCS), the largest opposition party in the current Parliament, criticised the Constitutional Court's decision. The BCS believes the Court overstepped its authority and disregarded the arguments presented by legal experts. The opposition party has previously called on all political forces in Moldova to unite and develop a "common strategy" to address the referendum initiated by President Sandu, which they consider to be "illegal."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
