Constitutional expert Nicolae Osmochescu considers the referendum announced by President Igor Dodon will most probably take place, but it is not known what its result will be and if this will be made public. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the expert said the President’s initiative is legal, but the way in which the referendum is promoted is populist in character, IPN reports.

“Who can say: does a President need additional powers or not? A citizen, who does not know well all the subtleties of a legislative process and the correlations between the President and Parliament, and the Government, or the legislature that we criticize, and I criticize it often because it deserves given this political cruising, but that actually has particular experience. Surely it is hard to say,” stated the expert.

According to Nicolae Osmochescu, 50%+1 voters must take part in the referendum. The plebiscite of 2010 had an insufficient voter turnout. On the one hand, there are people who want this referendum to take place. On the other hand, the majority is absolutely apathetic.

On March 28, President Igor Dodon signed a decree to initiate a national consultative referendum with four quetsions that could be held on September 24. The first question is whether the people support or not the abrogation of the law that makes the repayment of the US$1 billion stolen from the banking system their burden. The people will also vote for or against giving more powers to the President for dissolving Parliament so that this could ultimately announce early parliamentary elections and will be asked if they agree to reduce the number of MPs from 101 to 71 and want the History of Moldova course to be taught in schools.