Ana Harlamenco: Referendum is a business between AEI and EU

The September 5 constitutional referendum is a business between the Alliance for European Integration (AEI) and the European Union and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia is against it, the Assembly’s head Ana Harlamenko told a news conference on Wednesday, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. Ana Harlamenko said the Bashkan of Gagauzia Mihai Formuzal works on the instructions of the central administration and does not promote the interests of the Gagauz people. “Instead of uniting the people of Gagauzia and trying to overcome the crisis, he made a statement calling on the voters to take part in the referendum without consulting the population. The members of the People’s Assembly consulted the people before urging boycotting the referendum,” Ana Harlamenko said. “We are not against the referendum, but we are concerned about the conditions in which it will take place,” Ana Harlamenko said. According to her, in the referendum the people should not be asked whether they want the head of state to be elected by popular vote, but if they want only 17% of the population to elect the President. (Under the amended Election Code, the referendum is valid if the turnout is 1/3 of the voters, while the decision is taken by half plus 1 of the votes cast – e.n.) This plebiscite can become a precedent for other referendums on such issues as entry into the NATO and union with Romania, Ana Harlamenko said. According to her, it is easy to gain the necessary 17% of the vote by using administrative resources and information propaganda and ‘hunting’ the opponents.