Chisinau, 27 July /MOLDPRES/ - Although the General Assembly (parliament) from Comrat (administrative centre of Gagauzia - autonomous unit in southern Moldova), led by a supporter of the Party of Communists (PCRM), Ana Harlamenco, called on the autonomy s residents to boycott the referendum, the Gagauzian people back the plebiscite's organization and will participate in it.

The bashkan (governor) of the Gagauzian autonomy, Mihail Formuzal, said that it is not in the interest of the Gagauzian autonomy to boycott the referendum, as this is the only solution which will help us get out of the political crisis. The Moldovan Party of Communists is not right in this case, as it is counter-productive for the communists themselves to boycott the referendum, and they will only lose before the voters during elections."

"Most residents want to elect the president by direct voting, and only in this way the citizens will be able to assess the activity of the head of state once in four years. The president's election by direct voting is a symbol of democracy," the Gagauzian bashkan added.

On 7 July, the Constitutional Court positively approved a draft law on the amendment of the article 78 of Moldova's Constitution (on the presidential election mechanism) by constitutional referendum. A group of MPs of the Alliance for European Integration submitted the draft.