EU expects Moldova's final decision on early elections

“Our position is known, I think – we suggest that the recommendations of the Venice Commission should be followed; and the recommendations foresee to change only one article of the Constitution in Parliament, followed by early elections”, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel stated in an interview with Info-Prim Neo. Commenting on the decision of the Alliance for European Integration to hold a referendum in a bid to avoid early elections, and on the intention of the opposition Communist Party to hold a counter-referendum in protest against that decision, Dirk Schuebel said: “I personally think that the last word has not yet been spoken, that there will be no early elections. That is why I think this reaction of the Communist Party is not their final position either. I would recommend that we wait until the final decision is communicated by the governing alliance and see how the Communist Party will finally react”. The EU Delegation Head suggested the Moldovan authorities should follow the recommendations of the Venice Commission as a condition for preserving the extensive support of the foreign partners for development. “Our strong recommendation is to follow the recommendations of the Venice Commission, because this is the body that can interpret the constitutions of the European countries in the best way, as they have the best experts at their disposal. If you ask me what the government can do best, I think it is to follow the recommendations in this context. ” Dirk Schuebel thinks the failure to follow those recommendations could cast a certain shadow on the relationship between the European Union and Moldova. “We will certainly not stop supporting Moldova if the recommendations are not followed, but of course it will cast a certain shadow on our cooperation”, he stated.