Prime Minister Iurie Leanca traveled to Taraclia to meet the district's leadership and mayors, the Government announced in a press release.

Earlier the leadership of the district, which is densely populated by ethnic Bulgarians, adopted a decision to support the referendum planned by the neighboring autonomy of Gagauzia on the latter's right to “self-determination in foreign policy matters”.

In this context, public consultations will be held in Taraclia on February 2. Citizens in each Taraclia's village and town are asked to assemble and have a direct vote on the same issues that are put up for the referendum in Gagauzia.

Iurie Leanca planned the Taraclia visit for January 11, but canceled it on short notice citing health issues. While the official purpose remained unannounced, Taraclia Mayor Sergey Filipov guessed Leanca hoped to talk Taraclia's leadership out of supporting the Gagauz referendum.

The district's leaders nevertheless did hold a meeting on January 11. In their speeches, officials and activists almost unanimously reasserted their intentions for February 2, while engaging in sharp criticism against the government in Chisinau.