The Balti Municipal Council, in an extraordinary meeting, decided to hold a referendum on the extension of local autonomy on November 1. The proposal was submitted by Communist councilor Alexandr Poneatovski and was adopted by 20 votes in favor and eight votes against, the Balti-based channel BTV reported, quoted by IPN.

The councilor said the holding of a local referendum on the extension of local autonomy is authorized by the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government that was ratified by Parliament in 1997 and by Moldova’s Constitution, the Law on Local Public Administration and the Election Code.

In the meeting, a number of sympathizers of the Party of Communists staged a demonstration in support of the idea of holding a local referendum. They said that if the municipality has extended local self-government, it will have access to more financial resources and the existing problems, which are neglected by the central authorities, will be thus solved.

After the May 26 meeting of the Standing Bureau, Head of Parliament Andrian Candu said the decision of the Balti Municipal Council is illegal and asked the State Chancellery and the competent bodies to challenge it. The Speaker also called on the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Security and Intelligence Service to intervene, noting that the legislation has enough provisions aimed at protecting the state interests from such intentions. According to him, the developments in Balti are dangerous and the state authorities should not remain indifferent.