The Liberal MPs challenged in the Constitutional Court the decree signed by the President of Moldova Igor Dodon to hold a referendum on four issues on September 24, IPN reports.

The MPs said the President should have remitted the proposal to hold the referendum to Parliament, which was to pronounce on the matter within six months and a referendum could have taken place only after 60 days of the adoption of a relevant decision by the legislature.

According to the Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu, a President limited in powers cannot ask for the right to dissolve Parliament or to call early parliamentary elections as governance is assumed by Parliament. “Why should he dissolve Parliament? Only because the parliamentary majority has views that do not coincide with those of the President? The Constitution says it clearly who and what is responsible for,” stated Mihai Ghimpu.

As regards the law that makes the repayment of the money embezzled from the banking system the people’s burden, the Liberal leader said this law took effect and cannot be subject to a referendum. “No matter what the population’s decision is, this will have no legal effects. It is a populist action,” stated Mihai Ghimpu.

As to another subject proposed for the referendum – reduction in the number of MPs from 101 to 71, Mihai Ghimpu said the figure of 101 MPs was calculated taking into account the size of the population.

About the President’s intention to consult the population about the teaching of the history of Moldova in schools, the Liberal leader said the Republic of Moldova is situated on Romanian land and the history is called the History of Romanians.

The Liberal MPs requested the Constitutional Court to suspend the President’s decree until a decision is passed by the High Court.