The Promo-LEX Association presented its final REPORT on monitoring the new local elections of May 29 (June 12) 2022. In these elections, eight settlements elected their mayors and another two elected their local councilors. After 2020, these were the first elections held, without pandemic restrictions.
The report highlights the existing deficiencies in the national legislation with regard to the organization of new local elections, repeatedly identified in these elections. They refer to the uncertainty regarding the length of electoral period and setting the date of the new local elections, as well as the organization of elections during the state of emergency, by applying a rule derogating from a decision of the Parliament, which derogates from a rule established by the organic law. Additionally, the Legislature amended the electoral legislation during the electoral period, when the constituency councils had already been set up and the period for appointing candidates had begun.
According to the findings of the Observation Mission, the Central Electoral Commission effectively organized the new local elections. At the same time, it should be mentioned that the composition of the lower electoral bodies is unbalanced from a gender perspective (CECE – 85% women and PEB – 88%); about 50% of CECE headquarters were inaccessible to people with locomotor disabilities.
Out of 56 parties with the right to nominate candidates, 10 political parties participated in the elections. Parties nominated 23 candidates for the position of mayors: the PAS (6); BECS (5); PLDM and the PPS 3 each; the PPPDA (2); and the PPN, PDM, PL and PPPO – one each. Another seven (23%) candidates competed independently. Only 20% of the total registered candidates were women.
The election campaign was also marked by the use of electoral advertising contrary to legal provisions: at least 2 cases of distribution of materials without printing information (name of the competitor, date of printing, circulation, etc.) and at least 2 cases of unauthorized placement of advertisements (on pillars). At the same time, the campaign messages of the competitors focused on the problems existing in the settlements and the solutions proposed to deal with them.
Following the civic monitoring, the Promo-LEX OM estimated an amount of at least 51,551 lei as being undeclared by 9 competitors. The highest amounts estimated as undeclared fall for the PPS (58%); PAS (27%) and the BECS (6%). According to the estimates of Promo-LEX, the PPS incurred campaign expenses that seem to have exceeded the limit ceiling set by the CEC by 10,369 lei.
According to Promo-LEX observers, during the election period, voters, electoral competitors and other subjects filed a total of 9 appeals against the actions or inactions of electoral competitors.
On election day, polling stations opened and closed regularly. Voting, in general, was organized efficiently and went smoothly. Observers reported 6 incidents, all in the first round. The counting of votes was fast and calm. At the same time, cases were reported when PEB members ignored the rule that stipulates that the ballot papers should be counted only by one member of the PEB.
The results of the parallel counting, performed by Promo-LEX confirmed the results presented by the electoral bodies. In the first round (May 29, 2022), mayors were elected in five settlements, respectively, three mayors were elected in the second round (June 12, 2022). The legality of the elections and the validation of the mayors’ and councilors’ mandates took place within 1-5 days of election day.
The Promo-LEX monitoring report contains several recommendations to the Parliament on the amendment and improvement of electoral legislation, including providing for legal conditions for consolidating the capacity of the CEC in establishing an effective mechanism to ensure control and verification / estimation of electoral expenses. The Central Electoral Commission and lower electoral bodies are recommended to define the legal status of notifications during the electoral period, as well as the way of solving them. Local public administrations are recommended to set up access ramps in polling stations, and electoral competitors to actively involve their trustees in the election campaign.
Since 2009, this is the 23rd Mission organized by the Promo-LEX Association, with the involvement of over 16,400 national observers. The Observation Mission for the new local elections of May 29 took place with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
For further information, please contact:
Elena Capatina, communications officer, Promo-LEX Association
Tel: 079454344; [email protected]