CHISINAU – Moldovan President Igor Dodon said that a consultative referendum, which he had initiated on the issue of vesting the president with additional constitutional powers to dissolve the parliament, will take place.
“The referendum scheduled for September 24 will take place. I will insist on it, as it is a consultative referendum, and the president has the right to learn the people’s opinion,” Dodon told reporters, commenting on the decision of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission regarding the change of the electoral system in Moldova and the extension of the president’s powers in the dissolution of the parliament.
“We’ll see what the people’s opinion is, but I firmly believe it would be a positive one. Following it we will find the best formula in accordance with European practices for the president to dissolve the parliament and announce a snap election in the country,” he said.
As reported, the Venice Commission criticized the bill amending the electoral system. It admitted that the change of the electoral system is a sovereign right of a country, but said that it would not recommend carrying out the reform in the absence of a broad political consensus.
At the same time, the Venice Commission found the president’s legal initiative to expand powers of the head of state to dissolve the parliament inappropriate. Holding of a consultative referendum that does not have legal consequences is unreasonable, it said.
In April, Dodon scheduled holding of the consultative referendum on four issues, such as support to giving additional constitutional powers to the president for the purpose of dissolving the parliament and announcing a snap election, for September 24.
According to the Moldovan legislation, the president has the right to initiate a consultative referendum, but not the constitutional one. Additionally, in accordance with the law, the president should make a suggestion on a referendum to the parliament, which considers the suggestion and adopts a special law on holding the referendum, its financing, organization, and date.
