DISINFO: Moldova leadership uses referendum to remove neutrality from the Constitution
SUMMARY
Maia Sandu, who is seeking re-election for a second term, decided to hold a referendum on election day, which, if successful, should give the ruling PAS party the opportunity to amend the Constitution of the country.
What changes the ruling team wants to make to the basic law of Moldova is not reported, which already causes mistrust. Apparently, the leadership wants to remove the principle of Moldova’s neutrality from the Constitution - the main obstacle to the country’s involvement in NATO - and enshrine in it the desire to join the EU in order to make this process irreversible, despite the fact that such a prospect is impossible in the foreseeable future.
RESPONSE
The claim is in line with the pro-Kremlin narratives targeting Moldova's constitutional referendum on the country's accession to the European Union, to be held on October 20, 2024, the same day as the country's presidential elections. It is mixed with an anti-NATO narrative, frequently used by the Kremlin to accuse Moldova's pro-European leadership of wanting to overturn neutrality and involve the country in war against Russia.
The claim is false. On May 16, 2024, the Parliament of Moldova adopted the decision regarding the organisation of the constitutional referendum, and since then the question that people will answer on the day of the referendum has been clearly announced: "Do you support the amendment of the Constitution with a view to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union?". The changes that will be made to the Constitution do not refer to the cancellation of neutrality and accession to NATO.
See here a similar cases: „The West is dragging Moldova into the conflict in Ukraine” and here a case claiming that Moldovan authorities are preparing for an armed conflict with Russia.