The Socialists on May 11 started to collect signatures in support of the referendum for dismissing Mayor General of Chisinau municipality Dorin Chirtoaca. President Igor Dodon was the first to put his signature at the tent pitched at Kilometer Zero in central Chisinau, IPN reports.

After signing, Igor Dodon told the press that he came to sign as a resident of Chisinau municipality and to give an example to the rest of the citizens.

“I’m firmly convinced that this year Chirtoaca will leave his post of mayor. I think this is a start not only for freeing Chisinau of an incompetent mayor, but also for freeing the Republic of Moldova of a Euro-unionist parliamentary alliance and government. I want to call on the inhabitants of Chisinau municipality to become actively involved so that we collect a maximum number of signatures in favor of the dismissal,” stated the President.

Chairman of the Socialist group on the Chisinau Municipal Council Ion Ceban said that similar tents will be put up in all the districts of Chisinau. Signatures will also be collected from door to door. Also, the people from suburbs will be able to sign at the place of residence. The 63,000 signatures that need to be collected during 60 days will be gathered swiftly and the referendum will be held in November at the latest. There are no reasons for suspending the referendum.

Earlier, another initiative group formed of civil society activists launched the procedures for organizing a referendum for dismissing the mayor of Chisinau also by court. After going through a number of courts, their request was ultimately rejected.