President of the Congress of the Moldovan Diaspora in Russia Alexandr Kalinin considers the citizens with the right to vote should be informed about the September 24 referendum initiated by President Igor Dodon and about the procedure for registering beforehand launched by the Central Election Commission in the best way possible. The Congress is concerned about the way in which such an event is organized given that this is very important for the whole Moldovan state.
Contacted by IPN, Alexandr Kalinin said that regrettably, the Moldovan officials haven’t addressed the diaspora in Russia one way or another and this knows about the issue only from the national press.
The Congress’ leader noted that the Moldovans who are abroad should know why they should leave the job for a day and sustain losses so as to take part in the referendum. Today the people are not informed about the referendum and the possibility of registering beforehand to take part in this. Thus, there is a risk that the number of participants will be very low. “If we speak about the presidential or parliamentary elections in Moldova, the citizens now well the procedure and what question is put by the state. This is not yet the case with a referendum,” said the representative of the diaspora.
During July 11 – August 9, the Moldovans eligible to vote, who will be abroad on the referendum day, can register beforehand to be able to vote through www.alegator.md or by submitting a written application to Moldova’s embassy or consular office in the country where they are. Those who will register beforehand will be automatically struck off the voter rolls at the place of domicile in Moldova, but only for this year’s referendum. According to the Central Election Commission, the move is aimed at enabling to determine the estimative number of voters abroad so as to establish additional polling places there.
The referendum initiated by President Igor Dodon will include four questions, about the conversion of the emergency loans provided by the National Bank of Moldova to three bankrupt banks into a state debt, offering of additional powers to the President to dissolve Parliament in other conditions than the current one, opportuneness of reducing the number of MPs from 101 to 71 and teaching of the History of Moldova course in schools.
