On 21 May 2018, a delegation from the Congress headed by Regional Chamber President Gunn-Marit HELGESEN, Norway (EPP/CCE), concluded its Electoral Assessment Mission regarding the early local elections held in the Republic of Moldova on Sunday. The eight member delegation deployed three observer teams representing seven European countries and visited some 50 polling stations in Chisinau, Balti and three other localities outside the capital city.
"Technically speaking, these elections were well-prepared and administered by an overall experienced electoral staff at the level of the polling stations, the counting was efficient and, with the exception of tensions observed by the Congress in some localities outside Chisinau and isolated inconsistencies mainly regards the sealing of the ballot boxes, the Election Day can be described as orderly, calm and uneventful", Gunn-Marit HELGESEN stated.
"However, an Election Day needs to be assessed also in the broader context of the campaign environment. During our meetings prior to the E-Day, the Congress delegation was informed about cases of misuse of administrative resources, complaints concerning campaign financing violations and, overall, the lack of a level playing field and equal access to the media for all the competitors", the Chamber President underlined. "In the interest of the further consolidation of the voters' lists, we consider it also necessary to clarify the regulations with regard to domicile and temporary residence" , she added.
"Already over many months prior to these elections, the Congress received reports about pressure brought to bear on local elected representatives in the Republic of Moldova through court proceedings and threats, particularly to members of the opposition, determining them to change sides. Unfortunately, this situation has influenced the campaign environment and it remains to be a matter of concern for us", Helgesen made clear.
"Last not least, probably the most worrying issue is the lack of trust in the state institutions, notably the judiciary , in the parties and, in related to that, the growing political fatigue of the population. The fact that in Chisinau and Balti only some 35 percent of the electorate turned out at the polling stations, is an alarming signal for elected representatives at all levels of government", concluded HELGESEN who, in view of the second round of mayoral elections to be held in Chisinau on 3 June, called on all stakeholders "to do their utmost to ensure a fair and transparent competition."
Further to the assessment of the 20 May early local elections, a Congress information report including targeted recommendations will be prepared and presented at the Monitoring Committee and adopted during the 35th Plenary Session in autumn in Strasbourg.
