Maia Sandu, as a private citizen, has the right to support union and has repeatedly said that she would back the reunification of the two banks of the Prut. Her statement about a possible referendum confirms that the president of Moldova has reaffirmed that the state must approve major decisions through democratic means, constitutional expert Nicolae Osmochescu says.
Speaking to Realitatea, one of the authors of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova said that several consultations would be necessary before any hypothetical referendum, both in Chisinau and in Bucharest. He said that only after such discussions could the parliaments of the two states decide to organize a referendum.
“Both the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova and the Constitution of Romania, as well as the constitutions of most democratic states, provide two general democratic forms of public participation in state affairs and in the organization and functioning of the state. The first is the direct form, which involves a referendum. In this case, all citizens with voting rights, from a certain age, take part in deciding the most important moments in the life of the state and society.
It is clear that President Maia Sandu once again confirmed that the most important moments in the life of the state are resolved through democratic means, one of which is the referendum,” Nicolae Osmochescu said.
The law expert stressed that referendum results have supreme legal force under the constitutions of both the Republic of Moldova and Romania. As a result, the people will decide whether unification takes place.
He also said that the president has the right to express her personal view on unification, while accusations of treason, criticism, and calls for resignation represent hysteria from pro Russian parties acting on command.
Maia Sandu said in an interview with the British press that if a referendum on the unification of the Republic of Moldova with Romania were held, she would vote in favor, but she considers European integration a more realistic goal supported by citizens through a referendum.
Her statement triggered reactions from pro Russian parties in the Republic of Moldova, which accused her of treason, demanded her resignation, and called for investigations by the Intelligence and Security Service and the Prosecutor’s Office. The Presidential Administration did not comment on these reactions.