Local elected officials promise referendum will go smoothly

Representatives of the local authorities assured Prime Minister Vlad Filat they will make sure that the referendum takes place smoothy. For his part, the Premier said the local elected authorities that adopted decisions to boycott the plebiscite could be held accountable. Filat convened the mayors and district heads for a meeting on August 25 to discuss the organization of the September 5 constitutional referendum, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the Premier, the meeting held at the National Palace was attended by over 700 mayors and district heads. “The September 5 referendum is a very important event as the electoral process in Moldova should come to an end,” Vlad Filat told the local elected officials. Filat said some of the actions of the local elected officials can be regarded as sabotage. “The decisions to boycott the referendum infringe the people's rights and they should inflict punishment.” he added. Mayor of Orhei town Ion Stratulat said the mayors are responsible not only for setting up the polling places, but also for mobilizing the people to the polls. Ion Bivol, the mayor of Bacioi village of Chisinau municipality, who is a member of the Communists Party, said he will make sure that the referendum in the village takes place despite the PCRM's decision to boycott the referendum. Mayor of Saptebani village, Rascani, Rodion Lungu said the information of the people is very important. “The representatives of some of the parties who came to our village told the people that the September 5 referendum is on Moldova's union with Romania,” he said. On September 5, voters will be asked whether they are in favor or against amending the Constitution so that it allows for direct election of the head of state.