Soc-Dems: AEI campaigning on taxpayers' money

The initiative of the Alliance for European Integration (AEI) to hold a constitutional referendum is just an attempt to conduct an election campaign using taxpayers' money, said Sergiu Corobceanu, secretary of the Social-Democratic Party, at a news conference today. Since all the opinion polls show a great majority opting for direct presidential vote, there is no need to hold a 50 million lei referendum to change the legislation, argues Corobceanu. The organization of this referendum is, moreover, in contradiction with the Moldovan Constitution, which explicitly states, in Article 141, the situations when the Constitution may be changed. The Soc-Dems are further criticizing the AEI for its conduct, which risks bringing the Communist Party back into government. The people are disillusioned by the lack of transparency in governance and the situation where just one single person decides the fate of the entire country – acting president Mihai Ghimpu, said Sergiu Corobceanu. The Soc-Dems are urging the Alliance to dissolve Parliament and announce the date of new elections right away.