By voting to hold a local referendum on the extension of Balti municipality's autonomy, they Balti City Council has clearly overstepped its powers, and this stains our country’s image. The statement was made today, July 27, by Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie Leanca, reports Info-Prim Neo. “Balti’s decision is just a desideratum for now. A dialogue is needed, in order to explain to them what is constitutional, what is unconstitutional, and what the punishment for such actions is”, the Minister stated at a press conference. Iurie Leanca believes that more communication with local authorities is needed. During the July 26 Balti municipal Council meeting, the councilors, mostly Communists, voted to hold a referendum on extending the autonomy of the municipality. Several experts and political commentators have stated that this was a provocation by the Communist Party, which feels threatened by loss of power to the current government.