Basarabeasca residents deny that their district will not take part in referendum

Representatives of Basarabeasca district deny the reports that their district, especially Basarabeasca town, will not participate in the September 5 referendum. In a news conference held at Info-Prim Neo on August 23, they said these are erroneous statements disseminated by certain political forces. “It is not true that Basarabeasca district is against the referendum and will not take part in it. These are inventions by the Communist councilors in the Basarabeasca Town Council. We are indignant that somebody wants to manipulate us. We will go to the referendum and vote in favor of direct election of the head of state,” said the head of the Basarabeasca mayors association Vasile Baciu, the mayor of Sadaclia village and a member of the PLDM. According to him, Basarabeasca district is ready for the constitutional referendum. The lists of the 24,233 persons eligible to vote in the district have been compiled. “According to our polls, most of the residents of the district, including Russians and Gagauzians, will take part in the referendum and vote in favor of allowing the people to elect the President,” Baciu said. Tatiana Donici, a native of Basarabeasca district, said the Basarabeasca Town Council, which consists mainly of Communist councilors, adopted a decision whereby they announced they will not go to the referendum and urge the population to boycott it. “In a meeting of the Council, 12 persons decided the fate of practically the entire district. But their decision does not represent the wish of the district's residents, who are decided to take part in the referendum,” said Donici. Mayor of Carabetovca village Tudor Cazacu said no district council, except the Basarabeasca Town Council, took such a decision. On the contrary, they call on the people to participate in the referendum. Anatol Prohnitchi, deputy head of the Ecologist Party, who is from Sadaclia village of Basarabeasca, said the police and the Central Election Commission should take attitude towards those who urge the people not to vote in the referendum and distribute related materials. In the July 29 elections, the PCRM in Basarabeasca district was supported by 52% of the voters, the PLDM – by 14%, the PD – by 11%, while the AMN – by 8%.