The referendum will put an end to all speculations whether or not the citizens of the Republic of Moldova want the country to join the European Union, said Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu. According to him, the referendum will provide a very clear picture of people’s desire to be part of the European family. For 2024, no military risks against Moldova are anticipated, but the hybrid attacks coming from the Kremlin will continue, IPN reports.
The leader of the ruling party PAS welcomes President Maia Sandu’s initiative to organize a referendum in 2024, saying that such an electoral exercise will legitimize citizens’ desire to be part of the EU.
“President Maia Sandu put forward this initiative. The proposal to hold a referendum was previously formulated by representatives of the opposition. The referendum has its purpose, but the election results also matter because all elections are a kind of referendum, after which you see how many people voted for a political option. I believe that this exercise will put an end to speculations about whether or not the Moldovans want to join the European Union. I’m convinced that the Moldovans want to be part of this European family, of an area of peace and wellbeing. It is a market of 500 million consumers, with clear rules, where nobody blackmails you because they don’t like your wine or apple,” Igor Grosu stated in the talk show “In the context” on the public television channel.
The official is convinced that in 2024 Russia’s attempts to destabilize the situation in Moldova will continue in order to frustrate the country’s European path. The Speaker said that Russia applies all instruments of a hybrid war in relation to Moldova, but these threats can be countered with the support of state institutions and foreign partners.
“Thanks to the heroism of the Ukrainians, we are protected from a danger of an invasion on the part of the Russian Federation. At the same time, we face hybrid threats coming from the Russian Federation. We experienced embargoes, energy blackmail. In 2023, the Kremlin changed its strategy and came to terms with bandits. And I say this with full responsibility. I have the impression that they no longer bank on the PSRM and their traditional parties. Now they removed the makeup and shook hands with bandits, with organized crime. I think hybrid threats will continue in 2024, but we already have some kind of immunity. I am talking about more prepared, more courageous defense institutions. We have gained the trust of our European friends. We opened negotiations. Speaking in football terms, that means we are in another league. And we will be helped more to deal with these threats,” stated the PAS leader.
On December 24, President Maia Sandu asked Parliament to organize a referendum in which citizens would decide whether they want or not Moldova to join the EU. She requested to hold the referendum next autumn, when presidential elections are to take place. Under the new Electoral Code, a national referendum cannot be held simultaneously with local, parliamentary or presidential elections.
