Debates for the September 5 constitutional referendum began at the public television channel Moldova 1. The invitees of the first program included representatives of the Centrist Union, the Socialist Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Party of Patriots, and the United Moldova Party. PSD leader Victor Selin said the voters in Moldova should not participate in the September 5 plebiscite as the governing alliance does not intend to dissolve Parliament after the referendum. “If the people do not vote, this will be a demand to dissolve the legislative body and call early parliamentary elections,” he said. MP of the United Moldova Party Ludmila Belchenkova said her party is in favor of amending Article 78 of the Constitution. “Our political class showed it is not able to bring about changes. It could not elect the head of state two times. It is the people who will now decide,” she said. The leader of the Centrist Union Mihai Petrache said he is in favor of a presidential government system, but stressed that the September 5 referendum is a consequence of the lawmakers’ irresponsibility. “The 101 MPs were elected by the people, but they could not elect the President, because they did not want to vote,” Petrache said. Mihai Berezikov, a representative of the Socialist Party, said his party is against the referendum because it is a waste of money. “The MPs should have reached an agreement and give the money planned for the referendum to the farmers,” he said. According to the chairman of the Party of Patriots Mihail Garbuz, wicked goals are pursued by the referendum. “I call on the people to take part in the referendum, but vote against amending Article 78,” he said. All the participants in the debates said they are against reducing the threshold for validating the referendum from 3/5 to 1/3 of the voters. Ten public debate programs will be held at Moldova 1 during the first round. The last program was scheduled for September 3. Twenty-five political organizations are taking part in the campaign for the referendum.