Chisinau protesters set to initiate referendum on universal presidential elections
CHISINAU. Oct 4 (Interfax) - Chisinau protesters are set to initiate a referendum on universal presidential elections.
The protesters shouted their approval of the initiative declared by Civil Platform DA leader, policy expert Igor Bocan at the rally on Chisinau central square, an Interfax correspondent reports.
"The sixth month anniversary of our protests will be marked tomorrow. We have been standing on this square, living in a tent camp for a month. During that period of time, the protests have become a social phenomenon which, according to opinion polls, is supported by about 80% of the Moldovan population. The country is in collapse and in crisis. The ruling coalition leaders engaged in the theft of one billion [euro] from banks, are blackmailing each other. The government does not have an anti-crisis plan and cannot develop it because it is not enjoying support of the people or the 'development partners'," Bocan said.
He proposed to initiate the referendum for restoring universal presidential elections as "a main demand of the protesters and all citizens of Moldova."
According to the Moldovan constitution, a referendum can be initiated by one-third of parliament deputies or at least 200,000 citizens.
The Chisinau protesters said earlier on Sunday they were determined "to free the country taken over by the junta." They called on the police "to defend the country and the people and, for that reason, to take the people's side." They also declared the need for "acts of civil disobedience starting with the blocking of roads and government agencies" and refusing to pay taxes and public utility fees afterwards.