The Venice Commission did not examine the constitutionality of amending the Constitution by referendum and did not say it was against holding a constitutional referendum, while the related reports that appeared in the press are due to the inexact interpretation of the text adopted by the Commission, Minister of Justice Alexandru Tanase said in a press briefing on Tuesday, Info-Prim Neo reports. The explanations come after Deputy Minister of Justice Nicolae Esanu, who is an expert with the Venice Commission, told the press that the Venice Commission does not accept the idea of a referendum. Alexandru Tanase said the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on June 4 adopted a joint position on the amendments that are to be introduced to the Electoral Code of Moldova. The Commission only ascertained that the bill with amendments envisions the revision of the Constitution and the adoption of a new Constitution by referendum. It said that under Article 143 of the Constitution, any amendment to the Constitution is adopted by the vote of 2/3 of the MPs, while the issue can to put to the vote six months after the amendment proposal is submitted. Alexandru Tanase said at an informal meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on June 7, which was called at the suggestion of the CE Secretary General to present the results of his June 3 visit to Chisinau, Thorbjorn Jagland, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Venice Commission Thomas Markert, reiterated that they are in favor of holding a referendum in September and early legislative elections in November as this is the only solution that can help Moldova overcome the constitutional crisis. “Mister Esanu is a competent persons, but is too straight in certain issues that require more diplomacy. This is my viewpoint,” said Alexandru Tanase. He also said that it is not yet known if the decision regarding the referendum will be taken by the Government or the Parliament.