A 13-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe carried out an election observation mission from 3 to 6 November observing the local elections in the Republic of Moldova on 5 November 2023.
Prior to the Election Day, the delegation, led by Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE), met with the President of the Central Election Commission (CEC), the Minister of Justice, the President of Constitutional Court, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of political parties and candidates running in the elections.
Joint briefings were also scheduled with OSCE/ODIHR Core Team and a delegation of the European Parliament. The delegation finally exchanged views with the President of the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM), the Head of Moldovan Delegation to the Congress as well as the domestic and international NGOs and media representatives.
On Election Day, nine Congress teams deployed in the country were monitoring the election procedures in polling stations.
The preliminary conclusions were presented by Vladimir Prebilic (Slovenia, SOC/G/PD, L), Deputy-Head of Delegation, at a joint press conference with the OSCE/ODIHR and the European Parliament, in Chisinau on 6 November 2023 at 15:00 EET (Venue: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 21/A Arborilor Street, Chişinău).
Congress delegation:
Ms Gunn Marit Helgesen, Norway (EPP/CCE, R), Head of Delegation
Mr Vladimir Prebilic, Slovenia (SOC/G/PD, L), Deputy-Head of Delegation
Ms Dusica Davidovic, Serbia (SOC/G/PD, R)
Ms Carla Dejonghe, Belgium (ILDG, R)
Mr Joao Manuel Esteves, Portugal (EPP/CCE, L)
Mr Jani Kokko, Finland (SOC/G/PD, L)
Mr Alberto Mazzoleni, Italy (ECR, L)
Mr James Moloney, Ireland (ILDG, L)
Ms Randi Mondorf, Denmark (ILDG, R)
Mr Benoit Pilet, France (ILDG, L)
Mr Andreas Rabl, Austria (ILDG, L)
Ms Karin Thomasson, Sweden (SOC/G/PD, R)
Mr Peter Thornton, United Kingdom (ILDG, R)
Expert:
Dr Brid Quinn, member of the Group of Independent Experts (Ireland)
See also: Congress webpage on the observation of local and regional elections
Contact: Stephanie Poirel