The day of February 2, when two referendums are two take place in Gagauzia, can and should be a turning point in the relations between the central and local authorities. The official Chisinau will have to take into account people’s wishes when taking decisions, said members of the PSRM’s socialist platform “Patria-Rodina”.
In a news conference at IPN, representatives of the platform’s coordinating council said that Moldova is rigidly managed by the authorities that do not respect the principle of decentralization of power. “We are concerned about some of the statements of politicians and commentators, who say that Gagauzia was created by a political and strategic mistake. We are concerned about the faith of our country, which is in danger owing to the limitless centralization of power,” said the coordinator of “Patria-Rodina” Platform Valentin Krylov.
According to the politician, Gagauzia is part of Moldova and will remain so after the February 2 referendums. The Gagauz people will not separate themselves, but will show the central power that their option must be respected.
Ivan Urum, coordinator of the local organization of “Patria-Rodina” in Vulcanesti, said the central power does not ask the people from the region if they agree or not with the decision taken by the official Chisinau. “It’s not right to dictate what future we should aspire to. We, in southern Moldova, want intense relations with Ukraine. We can cooperate with this state, but cooperation relations should be established within a customs union,” he stated.
Another coordinator of the platform Fiodor Gagauz said the decision to hold the two referendums was taken unanimously by the deputies of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia. It’s not excluded that other local authorities will do the same. “The central authorities must take into account the people’s wishes, not to declare their democratic initiatives as illegal,” he added.
Last November, the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia adopted two decisions, on the holding of a legislative referendum on the local population’s right to self-determination and on the holding of a consultative referendum containing two subjects: on joining the Russia – Belarus – Kazakhstan Customs Union, and on joining the European Union. Both of the plebiscites were scheduled for February 2. The decisions were annulled by the Comrat Court.
