The upcoming 2024 political agenda in Moldova revolves around the autumn referendum, where citizens will decide on the country’s accession to the European Union. Initially proposed on December 24, 2023, the referendum might coincide with the fall presidential elections, according to political expert Igor Boțan.
Boțan emphasizes the significance of referendums as a direct expression of citizens’ will on crucial national issues. While elections identify representatives through majority voting, referendums play a vital role in direct democracy.
Stanislav Ghilețchi, Deputy Director of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, questions the timing of the surprise referendum announcement and its rushed legal adjustments. He highlights the importance of genuine public participation and transparency in decisions of such magnitude.
Anatol Țăranu, a political commentator, acknowledges the legality but criticizes the lack of communication and imagines challenges to legitimacy. The opposition, caught off guard, struggles to adapt its stance, opening a societal debate with potential risks to Moldova’s European integration.
The initiative sparks a Pandora’s box of disputes, with potential implications for Moldova’s European path, according to Țăranu. The unfolding dialogue will shape public opinion on this pivotal decision.