​PRESIDENT DODON SPEAKS OF POSSIBLE REFERENDUM ON PARLIAMENT DISSOLUTION

Moldovan President Igor Dodon is not ruling out the possibility of holding a nationwide referendum on dissolving the incumbent Parliament. He repeated this thought in his meetings with the students and professors of Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO) and with Moldovan labor migrants held in the Russian capital on Wednesday.

“If the Government and Parliament put obstacles to our resolving grassroots’ problems, we may go as far as organizing such a referendum. If citizens decide against the Parliament at the referendum, we shall dissolve this forum. I am absolutely sure that if we announce a referendum, the population masses will simply sweep off the rulers”, stated Dodon.

A MGIMO student asked about the ruling majority’s plans to change the electoral system in Moldova from the current proportional to a mixed one, and the President said these plan of the authorities’ is known very well, for “they have already tested the mixed system at the recent election of the Gagauzia Popular Assembly”.

“They will try to do the same at a nation-wide parliamentary election. Well, we will be blocking this initiative. We are categorically against it, for one may not change rules of the game during the game. Moldova’s international partners are also against such lawlessness, and they are backing us”, said Igor Dodon without explaining what partners he meant.

Dodon was asked also about his attempt to recall home Moldova’s Ambassador from Romania “who made public statements against the President of his home country”.

“Imagine a situation: an ambassador, appointed to a country by his president, is criticizing the president. What reaction do you think must follow? That’s right – a recall of such diplomat. That’s what I have proposed to the Government – to recall the Ambassador from Bucharest. No go. I have a simple question to ask Prime Minister Pavel Filip: how are you going to appoint next ambassadors? You are supposed to appoint 20-30 new diplomats in a couple of weeks from now. Do you really think I will sign your decrees?” questioned the head of state.

Igor Dodon emphasized: if such differences keep mounting, this may eventually necessitate the organization of a referendum.