Referendum after Electoral Code is amended

The referendum on the method of electing the head of state - in Parliament or by direct vote - set to be held in September will be organized in accordance with the amended Electoral Code, Prime Minister Vlad Filat said, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. “We are to adjust a number of terms stipulated in the Electoral Code. We will have to reduce the term of six months for holding the referendum to two months and the term of 120 days between the referendum and elections to 60 days,” Vlad Filat said. The Moldovans who are abroad will also take part in the referendum. The amendments to the Electoral Code passed in first reading provide for opening polling places not only at Moldova's embassies abroad, but also in the settlements where there are many Moldovans. “The referendum will be an important exercise for the legislative elections and the presidential ones,” Vlad Filat stressed. The Premier said for the referendum to be successful the turnout should be at least 50% and most of the voters must be in favor of the direct election of the head of state.