Electoral debates // Three parties of Moldova urge citizens to vote ''for'' at referendum

Chisinau, 17 October /MOLDPRES/ - The European Union provides peace and stability and the greatest threat to the constitutional referendum on Moldova’s accession to EU, due on 20 October, is the Russian propaganda and the political and financial support provided by Russia to the anti-European parties. Representatives of the political parties, Home National Reunification Party, European Social Democratic Party (PSDE), People’s Will Party, registered by the Central Electoral Commission as participants in the referendum with the ‘’YES’’ option, expressed opinions to this effect during electoral debates organized at the Moldova public TV station on 16 October.  

The representatives of the three parties, registered at CEC, reasoned their ‘’for’’ option, urging the citizens to go to vote on 20 October.  

Ion Negrei, representative of the Home National Reunification Party: „The message which comes on behalf of the Home National Reunification Party in this moment is that Moldova is at a decisive moment; we are on the eve on a quite important event. It is about the constitutional referendum due on 20 October. In this complicated context in which the world is, we have the task to set our European vector of development. This is a thing wished also by the population of Moldova, as well as, to a great extent, by the other European nations, which back our European integration. An argument in this respect is the financial support Moldova has had in the last years.’’     

Ion Sula, president of the European Social Democratic Party: „PSDE has been consistent in statements and proved, during time, that it is the party which wants this desideratum, both in its programme and in reality, for Moldova to become member of the great European family. This integration was not started by the present governance yesterday; this is a road covered during 19 years and it is ruled out for Moldova’s citizens not to continue this way. We recognize that, proceeding from the social and political, economic situation in Moldova and from the viewpoint of security, the only chance is for us to integrate into the great European family.

Stefan Uritu, People’s Will Political Party: „The desideratum of the European integration is a desideratum of many years, since the Soviet times. The people of my age had this desideratum; we were listening to the Free Europe, BBC, other information sources and were dreaming to live in such an environment. Now, these doors are opened for us and this moment is unique. In fact, the rigours of joining the European Union were stricter; now, they were relaxed because of the policy waged by the successor of the European, the one which want to reestablish the Communist camp. I invite you to vote for Moldova’s accession to the European Union.’’      

Lucia Vieru, moderator, Moldova 1: To what extent do you think that the European integration can contribute to the consolidation of our security? If becomes EU member, might Moldova contribute to the security of Europe?   

Ion Sula, president of the European Social Democratic Party: „From the viewpoint of Moldova’s integration into the European Union, we have more arguments to say. One of the most important arguments, faced by the voters, citizens of Moldova, regards the peace. From the viewpoint of the security, we need a partner and the European Union is a strong partner. Therefore, this must be one of the basic arguments. We saw what happened in northern Moldova, when fragments of missile fell on the territory and we have an unjust war at the country’s borders.  It was proved that, during the entire existence of the European Union, no member country had been hit by war. This argument is pretty important and we should bring this message to Moldova’s citizens.’’     

Lucia Vieru, moderator, Moldova 1: In the context of the European integration way, we see a boosting of the Russian propaganda. In your opinion, which are the chances of the anti-European parties to influence the results of the referendum?  

Ion Negrei, representative of the Home National Reunification Party: „If it is about only anti-European parties, it would be one situation; yet, these anti-European parties have behind them a conductor and this conductor is outside Moldova and is called Russia. This is the biggest danger that forces from abroad are also involved in the process of organization and carrying out of this constitutional referendum. While the European Union comes to Moldova with funds for social projects, infrastructure, Russia provides political and financial support to the anti-European forces and does it through propaganda. It invests in radio stations, platforms for misinformation, in agents and political parties. And what is sadder is that the political parties are bearers of the interest from abroad and ignore the national interest. Therefore, we demand that the citizens are quite attentive at the propaganda made, as they manipulate here. No project on behalf of Russia has been implemented in Moldova; only propaganda, only misinformation, only manipulation. And what is more dangerous is this threatening with the war, the war waged by Russia in Ukraine; this is the example which must mobilize us and it should be a lesson for us that the European Union is a union of peace and security.’’           

Lucia Vieru, moderator, Moldova 1: In your opinion, can the European integration be a solution for the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict?

Stefan Uritu, People’s Will Political Party: „On this period, I have visited Transnistria; I went with the idea to promote the referendum in several settlements on the left bank of Dniester; I discussed with many people; they want this, they expect and when they see that the European Union opens the gates, many of them seek to get the citizenship, just as they receive the Romanian one, in this way, they get the citizenship of Moldova; it is easier to be gotten by those from the Transnistrian region. Which are their real thoughts, do they want to benefit or not? I am sure that both the war in Ukraine and the European integration of Moldova make the citizens from the left bank of Dniester to be more attached to Chisinau.’’ 

Moldova’s citizens on 20 October 2024 will participate in a constitutional referendum, during which they will answer the question: ‘’Do you support the amendment of the Constitution for Moldova’s accession to the European Union?’’

The results of the plebiscite will represent ground, if most residents answer affirmatively to this question, for the amendment of Moldova’s Constitution, so that the European integration’s desideratum should be compulsory for all governances due to come.