The referendum set to take place in Gagauzia on February 2 can be organized in the form of people’s consultations. The authorities’ intention is constitutional, but, regardless of the people’s answer, the referendum is exclusively consultative in character. It will show the position of the voters in Gagauzia and cannot influence Moldova’s foreign policy, constitutional expert Nicolae Osmochescu stated for IPN.

According to the expert, Moldova’s foreign policy cannot be dictated by the population of a territorial unit. The foreign policy course is approved by the Government and adopted by Parliament. A part of the voters cannot take a decision for all the voters of the country. As to the self-determination of Gagauzia, the expert said that under the legislation, Gagauzia has the right to external self-determination only if Moldova loses the status of sovereign and independent state.

Constitutional law expert Gheorghe Susarenco considers the intention to organize a referendum is not constitutional. The population of an administrative unit can hold a referendum on a local problem, on the construction of a road or bridge, but cannot pronounce on Moldova’s external vector. The initiative to hold a referendum is promoted by foreign political powers interested in destabilizing the situation in the country. Gagauzia does not have the right to external self-determination. The Law on the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia does not allow this.

In a communiqué, the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia says that in the February 2 referendum the Gagauz people will be asked to vote on the foreign development course as well as on the draft Regulations of Gagauzia and on the ‘postponed’ implementation of Article 7 of the Regulations, under which the people of Gagauzia have the right to external self-determination if the status of Moldova as an independent state is changed.