CEC ruling: Request of Ilan Shor's representatives on initiation of republican consultative referendum rejected

Chisinau, July 11. /MOLDPRES/- The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) today rejected the request for registration of the initiative group for the holding of the republican consultative referendum, registered with the Commission on June 29 by the representatives of Ilan Shor.

According to the CEC, when examining the documents, the Commission found non-compliance with the minimum criteria for setting up the initiative group. Thus, according to the report of the citizens' meeting for the initiation of the republican consultative referendum, the participation of 682 citizens was declared. At the same time, it was mentioned that the initiative group was made up of 110 people. The data for 4 members is incorrect, which reduces the number of eligible persons to 106.

"Following the comparison of the list of participants in the assembly to establish the initiative group, with the list of members of the established initiative group, it was certified that 22 people are not in the list of participants in the citizens' assembly, a fact that is confirmed by the signatures of the president and secretary of the group of initiative entered on these lists. Thus, a number of only 84 people is found, which is below the minimum of 100 people with the right to vote that constitute the initiative group, necessary for its registration, according to the Electoral Code", a press release of CEC reads.

The Commission also drew attention to the legal norms that state "the republican referendum is not held in the event of the establishment/declaration of a state of emergency, siege or war, nor within 120 days of the lifting of the respective state", and "the republican referendum cannot take place on the day of the parliamentary, presidential and general local elections, nor 60 days before and 60 days after the day of the elections".

By the Parliament's decision, the state of emergency throughout the country was extended by 60 days starting from the current June 4. At the same time, the Commission determined that the general local elections will be held on November 5.

The request for registration of the initiative group was submitted by the representatives of Ilan Shor. This aimed to initiate a consultative referendum on the foreign policy direction of the Republic of Moldova and the neutrality status.

During the CEC meeting, Ilan Shor's supporters organized a protest in front of the institution and expressed their dissatisfaction with the Commission's decision.