Liberal youth demand right to vote for overseas Moldovans

The youth arm of the Moldovan Liberal Party on Saturday staged a rally outside the Central Election Commission (CEC) to ask the Moldovan authorities to ensure that the Moldovans working and residing abroad can exercise their right to vote in the upcoming legislative elections, Info-Prim Neo reports. Holding posters and waving flags of the most popular destination countries for the Moldovan migrants and emigrants (Ireland, Spain, France, the United States, Russia, Romania, Greece, etc), the participants shouted “I want to vote!” in each language of these countries. “This is to raise awareness of the CEC, which is unwilling to open additional poling places abroad”, said Adrian, one of the participants. The Liberal youth expressed their solidarity with the Moldovan citizens residing in Ireland, who have many a time asked the CEC for more polling stations there. “We sympathize with the Moldovan citizens who are abroad and who cannot exercise their right to vote simply because they don’t fit into the plans of the Communists. We want our message to be heard so that something is done with it eventually, so that these people stop being just remittance senders, but also active participants in the life of the Moldovan society”, said Sergiu, another member of the Liberal youth. The manifestation was apparently ignored by the CEC. When the protesters dispersed, CEC chairman Eugen Stirbu told reporters he was confused that the participants didn’t come to speak with him in person. Stirbu said he would have told the protesters that the opening of additional poling station was impossible: “the Election Code provides for just two options for the Moldovans abroad - to vote either at an embassy or a consulate. Otherwise, the consent of the respective states is needed, but this is beyond CEC’s powers”, said Stirbu. Another political group – the Moldovan Liberal Democratic Party – announced they would stage a similar protest on Sunday in the Opera House Square.