Government wants to open 79 polling places for referendum abroad

The Government of Moldova plans to open 79 polling stations for the September 5 constitutional referendum abroad. According to Prime Minister Vlad Filat, an estimated €120,000 is needed to organize the plebiscite abroad. The foreign partners promised to provide this money, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vlad Filat said the application to open polling places abroad will be lodged with the Central Election Commission (CEC) today, July 19. Two more polling places will be opened besides the 32 that will work at Moldova's embassies and consulates abroad – at the Embassy in Madrid and the Consulate General in Iasi that are to be inaugurated soon. Another 45 polling places will be set up in the towns where there are many Moldovans. The Premier said 20 polling places will be opened in Italy, six in Russia, five in Romania, by four in the U.S., Portugal, Greece, the UK, and Germany, by three in France and Spain, two in Canada and one in Cyprus. “The additional polling stations will be set up after close consultation with the Moldovan diaspora in these states and the authorities of the host countries,” Vlad Filat said. The electoral offices abroad will consist of seven persons. The office's head will be designated by the ambassador or consul. Five members will be fielded by the five parliamentary parties, while one member will be proposed by the CEC. Asked how the Moldovans living abroad will be informed about the referendum, Vlad Filat said the citizens are rather informed, but the political parties taking part in the campaign that precedes the referendum will also have the task of disseminating information. The modified Electoral Code allows opening polling stations abroad in other places than Moldova's embassies and consulates as well.