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Chisinau. June 17, 2011. The Promo-LEX Association issued the third pre-electoral monitoring report on general local elections of June 5, 2011. The report covers the period of June 6 – 16, 2011.

According to Promo-LEX, after the first round of elections, the campaign continued with the same level of intensity, election activities being reported immediately after the announcement of the official results. The electoral administration operates with minor deviations and the media actively reflects the campaign, including the regional and local outlets. Nevertheless, isolated cases of violence, intimidation, use of administrative resources and electoral gifts continue to raise concern.

As far as the election administration’s performance, the monitoring effort has found that the provisions of the electoral legislation on elections validation generally have been met, even though observers reported exceptions related to technical errors in at least at two polling stations. Local public administration mostly manifested balanced behavior and tended to create equal conditions for all candidates. At the same time though, monitoring effort observed an small number of cases of use of public office for campaign purposes.

Observers noted and welcome the neutrality of electoral officials and a conscious performance of their functional tasks, as well as the replacement of those members whose incompatibility was found on Election Day. All the same, the Promo-LEX observers have reported isolated cases of refusal to issue protocols to observers. Observers have also reported cases of irregular interpretations and limited understanding of the legal norms concerning the transmitting of election documents, organization of the electoral bodies during the second round and preparation of electoral rolls for the second round of elections. The monitoring effort is also concerned about the change of composition of election bodies, especially in regards to the quality of the new members’ training. A large number of electoral officials are disappointed by the small honoraria received for their services.

Observers have noted a dynamic election campaign. Even so, Promo-LEX is concerned about the isolated cases of violence and intimidation (at least 4 such cases have been reported), as well as about the cases of use of the administrative resources (at least 4 such cases have been reported), but also the cases of electoral gifts (at least 9 cases were reported).

In context, Promo-LEX calls on candidates to be more active in submitting complaints regarding any violation of the electoral rules and provide them with adequate evidence. To this end, of the 56 complaints filed by candidates and monitored by observers at least 24 have been rejected.
The Promo-LEX monitoring effort notes the continued and active involvement of local and regional mass-media in reflecting election campaign. In particular, the role of mass-media can be noted in regards to the presentation of information on electoral administration’ activity, the second round mayor candidates and electoral education for the second round of elections.

The Promo-LEX monitoring effort reminds that it is not an investigative body and it does not intend to provide evidence for the observed findings. The more than 400 standardized reports of the observers served as the only source for drafting this report. Reports are based on direct observations, meetings with interlocutors and consulting official documents.

The full copy of the report in English language is available here.

For more details, please contact: Carolina Bondarciuc, Public Relations Officer
Tel: (22) 450024, GSM: 069637849, e-mail: [email protected]