Staying at home on the day of the referendum means playing into the Russian Federation’s hands, said Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan, replying to the appeal of a number of Moldovan politicians to boycott the referendum of October 20. According to the Romanian official, a massive turnout and a firm vote in favor of European integration will be a signal for the European institutions to accelerate the negotiation process with the Republic of Moldova, IPN reports.

Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan described the autumn referendum as an extremely opportune exercise, which will show to the European Union the will of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova to be part of the community bloc. However, the official does not rule out the scenario of holding a new referendum at the end of the accession negotiations.

“This referendum is the best opportunity to confirm the majority pro-European support among the population. If the people go out to vote in large numbers and give an overwhelming vote for European integration, then the European Union will feel this vote, given by the people of the Republic of Moldova, as an obligation for itself to accelerate the integration process. Integration will be done because the people of the Republic of Moldova want it. If the people say this clearly and loudly, then integration will be done faster. That’s why a high turnout in the referendum and a massive vote in the referendum will be very good. If, from legal and procedural points of view, another referendum will be needed at the end of the negotiation process, there is no problem, it will be held. But the referendum now is useful and will bring a victory to the Republic of Moldova. The people, if they go out to vote in large numbers, will give a very strong signal to the European institutions that they want European integration,” Siegfried Muresan stated in the talk show “Resumé” on RliveTV.

The MEP called on the citizens of the Republic of Moldova to go out massively to the polls on the referendum day and to decide by vote the country’s development course. Boycotting the referendum means acting in favor of the Kremlin’s interests.

“The Republic of Moldova is a democratic state. The people in the Republic of Moldova want democracy. How can you not go out to vote? When one votes, it’s a chance for the person. The power belongs to the citizen. Telling the citizen on the ballot day to stay at home is undemocratic. Telling them to stay away from the polls is a sign that the politician wants a weak citizen. Staying at home means playing in the Russian Federation’s hands. Going to vote means expressing yourself as a citizen in order to decide in which direction the Republic of Moldova should go. Who goes to vote decides the future of the Republic of Moldova. Who stays at home, allows others to decide for them,” the European official pointed out.

The national constitutional referendum will be held on October 20, simultaneously with the presidential election. The referendum question is: “Are you for amending the Constitution to enshrine the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union in it?”.