The head of the Moldovan-Italian Sociocultural Promotion Association “DOR” Alexandru Cazacu said an insufficient number of Moldovans found out about President Igor Dodon’s initiative to hold a consultative referendum and not many were persuaded to register beforehand at the website www.alegător.md. “We expect policies of the highest level from the administration of a state. I think the Moldovan officials failed in disseminating the given information. If you go to Italy and ask the Moldovans about Dodon’s initiative there, I think nine in ten Moldovans will say “No”, while the tenth will ask: Who is Dodon?” Cazacu stated for IPN.
According to him, not many Moldovans abroad know about Igor Dodon’s intention concerning the referendum. In general, the confidence of the Moldovans who are abroad in the Moldovan politicians reached a record low in the last 20 years. The President and the administration of the Republic of Moldova haven’t yet found a just way to discuss with the expats.
Asked about the possibility for the Moldovans abroad with the right to vote to register beforehand for taking part in the referendum, the leader of “DOR” said that if the given information is disseminated in the same way as at the previous elections, no result will be achieved. It is not enough to create a mechanism. The people should be informed about this and convinced that this is useful. Or the situation will repeat: lack of ballots and angry and wronged voters given that the right to vote is a fundamental one. The Moldovan authorities are obliged to find methods and instruments for the information to reach every citizen, in any corner of the world.
“The preliminary registration idea is good, but we will yet see how it is put into practice and if it works. I don’t know how many Moldovans will take part in the referendum initiated by Dodon and how these vote. But the figures could be used to better organize the future elections. I consider this instrument is full of shortcomings and disagreements. First of all, not all the Moldovans abroad can register as they do not have time, money, wish or possibilities. Secondly, the margin of error between the reality and the number of registered persons will always be so high that this “citizen counting” method is evidently not recommended from my viewpoint,” stated Alexandrul Cazacu.
If he formed part of the government, the leader of “DOR” could suggest intensifying the cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the states where there are many Moldovans. The Italians are those who could respond most accurately to the question: How many Moldovans are there in Italy? “Why should we reinvent the wheel and start to determine figures that are known?” asked Alexandrul Cazacu.
He also said that he personally does not have big expectations of the referendum and time has come for Moldova to have a President that unites the people, not divides them. The diaspora has different political preferences. Surely, many of the Moldovans in the ex-Soviet states, but not all of them, will vote “for” any initiative proposed by Igor Dodon, but most of the Moldovans in the EU, the U.S. and the rest of the world would vote “against”,” projected Alexandrul Cazacu.
“I, as a citizen, want to know more what money is used to organize referendums that appear out of the whims of some politicians and who of these politicians is ready to assume the risks of a failed plebiscite and its costs. It’s easy to make attempts by using people’s money, but sometimes someone can be penalized. Ultimately, if I’m not wrong, a consultative referendum imposes no one to take a decision. They will actually consult the people, but will do as they want. I think several millions of lei will be wasted,” said Alexandru Cazacu.
President Igor Dodon at the end of March signed a decree to hold a national consultative referendum on September 24 this year. This will include four questions, about the conversion of the emergency loans provided by the National Bank of Moldova to three bankrupt banks into a state debt, offering of additional powers to the President to dissolve Parliament in other conditions than the current one, opportuneness of reducing the number of MPs from 101 to 71 and teaching of the History of Moldova course in schools.
During July 11 – August 9, the Moldovans eligible to vote, who will be abroad on the referendum day, can register beforehand to be able to vote through www.alegator.md or by submitting a written application to Moldova’s embassy or consular office in the country where they are. Those who will register beforehand will be automatically struck off the voter rolls at the place of domicile in Moldova, but only for this year’s referendum. According to the Central Election Commission, the move is aimed at enabling to determine the estimative number of voters abroad so as to establish additional polling places there.
