Moldovan top court's head: Initiative to revise Constitution does not affect sovereign, independent and unitary character of Moldova, nor status of neutrality

Chisinau, 16 April /MOLDPRES/- The initiative to revise the Constitution does not affect the sovereign, independent and unitary character of the Republic of Moldova, nor the status of permanent neutrality, the suppression of the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens or their guarantees. President of the Constitutional Court (CC) Domnica Manole made the statement after the Court approved the draft law amending the Constitution, which provides for the organisation of a referendum on Moldova's accession to the European Union.

The CC president stressed that in the constitutional republican referendum, the people have the prerogative to directly exercise national sovereignty, expressing their will on the most important issues of society and the state. "Decisions adopted on the basis of the results of the constitutional republican referendum have supreme legal power, without any confirmation by Parliament," said Domnica Manole.

She said that a possible accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union would not undermine the supremacy of the Constitution in the national legal system from the perspective of national sovereignty.

The referendum on Moldova's accession to the European Union was initiated by President Maia Sandu and is due to take place on 20 October, the same day as the presidential elections. It will contain the question "Are you in favour of Moldova joining the European Union?".