Parliament Speaker Ihor Grosu commented for the first time on Wednesday on President Maia Sandu’s request to organize a referendum on the country’s accession to the European Union in the fall of 2024 – possibly together with the presidential election – saying the plebiscite would put an end to old speculation and show whether Moldovans want to join the EU or not. , reports News.ro.

• “These proposals for holding referendums were previously presented by the opposition because, you see, God, we cannot move forward until there are such exercises. In addition to the fact that a referendum is a yes, it has its purpose, as well as the result of the election, because all elections are a kind of referendum. Finally, look at how many voters voted for a particular political option. (…) I think that this exercise will put an end to these speculations – whether Moldovans want to be in the EU or not. I believe that Moldovans want to be a part of the EU family, a space of peace where people and human life are respected, a space of well-being,” said the head of the Chisinau legislative power Ihor Grosu on public air. TV channel, NewsMaker reports.

Last week, President Maia Sandu called for a national referendum on joining the European Union in the fall of 2024, given that European leaders have agreed to open accession talks. In her speech on Christmas Eve, when she celebrated her three years in office, the head of state asked the parliament to start the procedures for organizing a referendum. At the same time, Maya Sandu officially announced that she will run for a new mandate in the presidential elections in the fall of 2024. She said that if she receives a new presidential mandate, she will continue the path of the Republic of Moldova to EU integration.

The idea of ​​a referendum, which was launched by Maia Sandu, caused discussions. The secretary of the Central Election Commission, Aleksandru Berlinskyi, as well as the socialist opposition, stated that the referendum cannot be held on the same day as the presidential or parliamentary elections, but only two months before or after the elections. On the other hand, four years ago, a referendum was held together with the parliamentary elections, but since then changes have been made to the Electoral Code.

President Sandu said that the parliament will have to establish the technical procedure of the referendum.

As a result, two days after Maya Sandu’s announcement, the ruling PAS party proposed changes to the Electoral Code to allow elections and referendums to be held on the same day. Another proposed amendment to the Electoral Code stipulates that the election of the president of the country should be held no later than 90 days before the end of the mandate, but no later than two months after the position becomes vacant, as provided by the Constitution.

President Maia Sandu’s term ends in December next year, and the current parliament will be fully operational until July 2025. According to the new Electoral Code, presidential elections take place within two months after the end of the mandate, and parliamentary elections within three months at the most. Both days are established by decisions of the parliament.