Judging by the costs incurred in the last national elections, the expenses for an eventual national referendum will rise to about 75 million lei, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has said in a response to an inquiry made by IPN News Agency.

So far the CEC has received only the President’s decree on the holding of a national consultative referendum that was signed on March 28. As it does not stipulate a date when it takes effect, it will come into force when it is published in the Official Gazette. Afterward, the CEC will be able to launch the procedures for organizing and holding the referendum. The Commission will approve the expenditure estimate and will remit it to the Government for identifying the necessary financial resources.

As regards the date of September 24 proposed by the Head of State for holding the referendum, the CEC said the electoral legislation provides that the date of the referendum is set at least 60 days before the referendum day. Consequently, the CEC has enough time to approve the calendar program for organizing and holding the referendum.

In an enlarged-format meeting with journalists on March 28, President Igor Dodon signed a decree to hold a national referendum. The first question that is to be put in the referendum is whether the people support the abrogation of the law that makes the repayment of the US$1 billion stolen from the banking system their burden or not. The people will also vote for or against giving more powers to the President for dissolving Parliament so that this could ultimately announce early parliamentary elections, will be asked if they agree to reduce the number of MPs from 101 to 71 and will vote for or against studying the History of Moldova in schools.