From 14 April to 11 May 2017, Promo-LEX carried out an election observation mission for the new local elections of 14 May 2017. The mission covered 7 settlements where mayors are to be elected: Mereni v. (Anenii Noi d.), Hirova v. (Calarasi d.), Pervomaisc twp. (Causeni d.), Tipala township and Ulmu v. (Ialoveni d.), Racovat v. (Soroca d.), Tvardita t. (Taraclia d.). Today – 12 May, the Report No 1 of the election observation mission for the new local elections of 14 May 2017 was published.
ECC I registered 26 election candidates, of which 2 are independent candidates, whereas 24 were nominated by 7 political parties:PSRM – 6, PDM – 6, PCRM – 4, PN – 3, PL – 2, PPPDA – 2 and PAS – 1.
The team of observers found that in terms of organization of elections, the situation is not very good when it comes to the observance by the ECC I and EOPS members of the work schedule. As for ECC I, considering all 21 visits – 7 times (33.3% of cases) Promo-LEX observers found that the councils were not working during opening hours. As for EOPS, considering all 28 visits – 13 times (46.4% of cases) Promo-LEX observers found that the offices were not working during opening hours. The observation mission also found gaps in the content of the lists of voters.
Promo-LEX observers found that there were candidates who used administrative resources during the monitored period at least in 2 cases. In one of them, it was the PSRM candidate in the village of Pervomaisc (Causeni d.), while in the other – the independent candidate to the position of mayor in Tvardita (Taraclia d.). The administrative resources were used by attracting civil servants in electioneering during working hours, as well as by involving hierarchically higher representaties of public authorities in promotion activities during their working hours.
According to the information provided by Promo-LEX observers – at least 3 cases that can be qualified as goods and services given under the election campaigns were registered during the monitored period. The following candidates are concerned: PSRM – 1 case; PDM – 1 case; PCRM – 1 case.
According to the estimations of Promo-LEX OM with regards to the period between 14 April-5 May 2017 – at least 6 election candidates (PSRM, PCRM, PDM, PL, PPPDA, Tuni Corneliu IC) used campaign funds that they did not fully report. The total amount of unreported expenses goes up to MDL 24 859.
At the same time, from 6 to 9 May, Promo-LEX conducted the ‘Ieși la VOT!’ (‘Come and Vote!’) campaign in the 7 settlements in order to mobilize in an apolitical manner the citizens who have the right to vote and to promote informed and conscious voting. Also, public electoral debates – that candidates and voters participated in – were organized in 2 settlement.
Promo-LEX Observation Mission consists of 4 long-term observers and a national coordinator, who will monitor the electoral process in all 7 constituencies. On election day, Promo-LEX will delegate a short-term observer to each polling station. The observers involved in the monitoring process sign the Code of Conduct of the Promo-LEX Independent National Observer, assuming the commitment to act efficiently, in good faith and in a non-partisan manner. The activity carried out by Promo-LEX EOM for the new local elections and the ‘Come to Vote’ campaign are currently funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The opinions presented in the public reports of Promo-LEX belong to authors and do not necessarily reflect the donors’ view.