The MPs of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BCS) submitted a complaint to the Constitutional Court regarding the initiative to hold a referendum on accession to the European Union concurrently with the presidential election, IPN reports.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Socialist heavyweight Vlad Batrîncea referred to the amendments made in January to the Electoral Code, specifying that these were adopted in a presidential year, without these new provisions having been approved of by the Venice Commission, without having consulting them with international organizations, in a political hurry, which is typical of those from PAS. Until now the Code stipulated that a national referendum cannot take place 60 days before and 60 days after the day of the parliamentary, presidential or general local elections. An exception was introduced by the amendments, namely that the referendum can be held the day parliamentary or presidential elections take place.

“We realize very well Maia Sandu’s reasons. With a declining rating in polls, through this national referendum they are trying, with public money, to somehow improve the position of Maia Sandu as a candidate for President. We understand very well that these are only political games, but it is a mockery and defiance of the legal and constitutional norms,” stated Vlad Batrincea.

At the end of December, when she announced that she will run for a second presidential term, Maia Sandu asked Parliament to organize a referendum in which citizens will pronounce on the country’s accession to the European Union. Subsequently, Parliament adopted amendments to the Electoral Code, which allow holding a national referendum simultaneously with parliamentary and presidential elections.