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The new parliamentary elections in the SMC no. 38 from Hincesti, held following the resignation of the MP Alexandru Botnari, in favor of the mayor’s office of Hincesti, are getting closer and the competitors registered in the electoral campaign are becoming more active.

This is one of the findings of the first Monitoring Report of the Promo-LEX Observation Mission, presented today, 12 March 2020, during a press conference. The report contains the monitoring results for the period 27 December 2019 – 11 March 2020.

The use of the national symbols but also of the image of the public authorities by the competitors, for promotional purposes

During the monitored period, the electoral competitors carried out 164 promotional activities, the most frequent being the distribution ones and those related to the placement of electoral displays – 44%, followed by meetings with voters – 30%.

The PSRM candidate used the image of the authorities, as well as disseminated election advertising without complying with the requirements for campaign materials.

The PAS, the UNIREA Bloc, the PLDM, the PSRM candidates have used the national symbols of the Republic of Moldova or of any other state as well as materials containing historical personalities. At the same time, the Promo-LEX observers have identified at least 40 cases of advertisement placement in unauthorized places (the PSRM – 17; the PPS – 15; the PAS – 7; the IC Grigore Cobzac – 1).

Costs of at least 112,542 lei are not reflected in the financial statements

The Promo–LEX OM estimated at least 112, 542 lei that failed to be reported by 5 electoral competitors: the PSRM (77 544 lei), the UNIREA Bloc (16 931 lei), the IC Cobzac Grigore (15 978 lei), the PPS (1 469 lei ), the PDM (620).

According to the reports submitted by the electoral competitors, the main share of the declared expenses falls on: advertising and campaign materials – 81%, meetings and events – 11%, salaries for the electoral staff – 4%; use of transport – 3%; others – 2%.

The Promo-LEX OM, especially taking into account the upcoming presidential elections, draws attention to the need to clearly regulate cases that can be qualified as indirect campaign financing by parties that do not participate in the elections but carry out electoral agitation.

Gender-biased and inaccessible to people with special needs electoral bodies

According to Promo-LEX observers from 44 precinct electoral bureaus formed within the legal time frame for the elections, in five cases PEB members failed to comply with the open voting procedure while performing the management election.

The gender composition of the PEB is not balanced, 85 % of them are women, and the proportions are maintained at the management level of the PEB. Please note that only women have been selected to serve as Bureau Secretary.

Availability of lower level electoral bodies to people with locomotor disabilities and/or special needs is far from being great: CECEU no. 38 is totally inaccessible while PEBs premises are not available at a proportion of 75%.

More active role of CEC in consideration and resolution of complaints related to procedural violations

According to Promo-LEX observers, during the monitored period one complaint was submitted to the CECEU and one request and one complaint to the CEC.

The Promo-LEX OM states a more active role of CEC in handling complaints and requests, compared to the practice of previous elections. At the same time, we draw attention to the fact that the effective processing of complaints and requests must be in strict compliance with substantive and procedural rules. Also, the CEC’s attitude and approach should apply equally to all electoral competitors, and to all similar situations.

We note that the number of voters on the main electoral lists for the new parliamentary elections of 15 March 2020 in the SMC no. 38, decreased by 493 citizens with the right to vote (from 61 728 to 61 235), compared to the parliamentary elections of 24 February 2019.

The full report can be accessed here.

The Observation Mission of March 15, 2020 New Parliamentary Elections is carried out by the Promo-LEX Association with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Democracy, Transparency and Accountability Program.

For more information, please contact:
Inga Stegarescu, Promo-LEX Association Press Officer
GSM: 069 26 96 84;
E-mail: [email protected]