President Maia Sandu announced that she will run for a second term in office as President in the election that will most probably take place next November. Also, Maia Sandu requested Parliament to organize a referendum in which citizens should pronounce on the country’s accession to the European Union, IPN reports.
Maia Sandu noted that she puts her hope in society’s support for obtaining the second term that she promises to use to ensure advancement on the path of European integration.
“I have undertaken to do everything in my power to complete the mission of European integration. I secured the support of the member states for this journey and I need your support, dear Moldovans, to succeed. We still have important steps to take and I pledge to continue, if you give me confidence for a new term in 2024. That is why I think the whole country say clearly which path we choose for Moldova. I ask Parliament to initiate the organization of a referendum next autumn, at which the voice of citizens will be decisive,” President Sandu said in her message on the occasion of Christmas, which coincided with the end of the three-year term of her current tenure.
“After 3 years of tenure, we managed to open negotiations for Moldova’s accession to the European Union. This seemed impossible three years ago. For this historic achievement, many people worked. Huge efforts were made and every contribution - from civil servants, from civil society, from every citizen - counted. A few years ago, together with citizens, we embarked on a path of transforming Moldova into a better country. When we set off on this road, corruption in Moldova was spreading, while freedom was diminishing. The corrupt clans in power seemed adamant. Moldova turned isolated and was spoken of only as a place of money laundering and chronic poverty. The hope that we had a chance to change things for the better was getting smaller. But we continued to fight for what we believe in. Our country has experienced both victories and defeats. But we never stopped on our path. And today we talk about Moldova with hope. Shoulder to shoulder, on this road, we have won the right to decide our own fate and the confidence that we can build a European state at home. Moldova today relies on a coalition of friendly countries that help and protect us. And after many years, we see light on this road. Recently, the European Union said a firm YES to our European path,” Maia Sandu wrote.
The last presidential election in the Republic of Moldova was held in 2020, in two rounds – November 1, 2020 and November 15, 2020, respectively. In the runoff vote, Maia Sandu beat Igor Dodon with a score of 57.72% to 42.28% of the poll.
The last referendum took place on February 24, 2019. In this, the people were asked if they accept the reduction of the number of MPs and the introduction of the revocation of the seat of MP by citizens. It was a consultative, not a decisional referendum, which was proposed by the then leader of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc. Although it was validated, its result wasn’t put to a vote in Parliament. The referendum was held on the same day as the parliamentary elections. If a relevant decision is taken, the referendum on Moldova’s accession to the EU will most likely take place simultaneously with the presidential election at the end of next year. Earlier, a number of political players demanded to hold referendums on the development course of the Republic of Moldova.
