Dignity and Truth Platform submits Moldovan electoral body signatures for constitutional referendum

Chisinau, 14 March /MOLDPRES/-Members of the Demnitate si Adevar (DA) (Dignity and Truth Platform) collected over 400 thousand signatures in favor of organizing a republican referendum to revise the Constitution and submitted them to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) today. 

The referendum provides for the election and dismissal of the president by direct vote, shrinking the number of MPs from 101 to 71 and withdrawal of MPs' parliamentary immunity. 

“We succeeded to gather over 400 thousand signatures, twice more than what the Moldovan Constitution provides for. We processed and arranged all the signatures as required and submitted them to CEC today. Signatures are to be verified within 15 days,” DA leader Andrei Nastase said. 

“In spite of the Constitutional Court's ruling in favour of electing the president by direct vote, we will still submit CEC all four sets of signatures, as we do not know the what is going to happen next. If the ruling stays into force, the option related to president's election and dismissal by direct vote will not be included on the list during the referendum day,” Nastase said. 

CEC head Iurie Ciocan said the total number of signatures was going to be established today, while their validity will be checked through the electronic register tomorrow. “After checking the correctness of the signatures' collection method, as well as their validity, CEC is going to approve an initiative and submit it to the parliament, which will then set up the referendum date,” Ciocan said.

Members of DA platform submitted CEC a draft law amending the Constitution on 5 November 2015.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, Editor A. Raileanu)