The initiative group created by the Civic Platform “Dignity and Truth” started to collect signatures in favor of initiating a referendum on the election of the President by direct vote on December 15. The group’s head Andrei Nastase, in a news conference at IPN, said the signatures will be collected within three months, by March 14.
The initiative group consists of 775 persons. A number of 360,000 signatures are needed to initiate a referendum. However, in this case 360,000 signatures must be collected for each of the four questions that will be put in the referendum. These refer to the reduction of the number of MPs from 101 to 71, diminution of the parliamentary immunity and the election and dismissal of the head of state by the people.
Andrei Nastase said the law allows opening an account for collecting funds from the people who want to finance the organization of the referendum and this account will be opened the coming days. The members of the initiative group call on the local and central public authorities to provide areas for posting information about the referendum and places for organizing meetings with the people.
Imitative group member Nicolae Garbu said the subscription lists issued by the Central Election Commission will be distributed to districts starting with December 15. A signature collection center was set up in the Great National Assembly Square. The initiative group determined that the 40,000 lists provided by the Commission are insufficient and as many are yet needed.
Group member Liviu Vovc said it is important for the people to communicate between them about the referendum and to always have on them the identity card so as to be any time ready to put their signature on the list at one collection point and avoid doubling the signatures.
The initiative group aims to collect the necessary number of signatures faster, before the mandate of the current head of state expires.
