A Post-Election Analysis Conference was held in Chisinau on 18-19 March 2025 to evaluate Moldova's presidential election and republican constitutional referendum from 20 October 2024. The Conference was organised by the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, in partnership with the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova (CEC).

The growing interest in the elections gathered around 190 policy and lawmakers, representatives of the public institutions, political parties, international community, civil society, media, as well as members of the international and national observation missions who discussed and analysed the context in which presidential elections and EU-related referendum were held, including from an institutional, international, legal and gender point of view.

Falk LANGE, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, stated that  „this conference serves as a platform to further improve the electoral processes and electoral jurisprudence in the Republic of Moldova and help Moldovan authorities to protect democracy as a member state of the Council of Europe, as well as to better implement the road map related to the EU accession process.”

Angelica CARAMAN, Chairperson of the Central Electoral Commission, stated that „Elections are synonymous with democracy. Without active participation, democracy becomes fragile and can be manipulated by interest groups or authorities that do not reflect the will of the people. Democracy therefore needs active, responsible citizens who understand the power of their vote. It is the majority that decides."

During the conference (access the agenda here) participants actively discussed expansion of alternative voting methods, certification of electoral officials, digitalisation of electoral processes, implementation of the recommendations issued by the international electoral observation missions on amendments to the legal framework, strengthening of the CEC capacities to oversee political party financing, combating hate speech and sexism, electoral dispute resolution, unbiased coverage of the electoral campaigns by media, and other key election-related issues. 

Representatives from the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, European Parliament, OSCE/ODIHR, ENEMO, and Promo-LEX Association shared their findings and recommendations for the upcoming parliamentary elections in autumn 2025.

The Conference represents an additional opportunity for key electoral stakeholders to pursue the work in implementing and promoting democratic standards and good practices in the electoral field, in line with the Council of Europe values and standards. The conclusions and recommendations of the Conference are particularly important in the context of the preparations for the 2025 parliamentary elections as well as for the implementation of the Republic of Moldova’s Agenda in view of the EU accession.

In the closing of the Conference, Franck DAESCHLER, Co-ordinator, Elections Programme, Electoral and Parliamentary Cooperation Division, Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, reaffirmed the importance of such Conference gathering, in an inclusive way, all national and international electoral stakeholders to reflect on the electoral process. While expressing his appreciation to the CEC leadership, and to all participants, for their contributions to the conclusions and recommendations, he stressed the need to invest in long-term strategy of voter education to build a society resistant to present and future threats to our democratic societies, which is a priority for the Council of Europe.

The Conference was organised in the framework of the Project ”Improving electoral practice in the Republic of Moldova (IEPRM) 2025-2028”, part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028.