Chisinau, 14 July 2009. Promo-LEX Association launched the first report on the monitoring of the campaign for the July 29, 2009. The monitoring was done in 7 electoral constituencies, namely Floresti, Rezina, Dubasari, Anenii Noi, Causeni, and Stefan Voda and the Transnistrian region of Moldova. The first monitoring report covers the period between June 16 and July 11 2009.
“Through this monitoring, we want to ensure free and fair elections throughout the country. Given the monitoring experience of the election process in the Transnistrian region, this time we decided to do more. We will observe the electoral process in a number of districts located on the right bank of the Nistru, where polling places are traditionally set up for Transnistrian voters” stated Ion Manole, President of Promo-LEX Association.
The first monitoring report concludes that the electoral campaign is characterized by a series of patterns that can limit the voting opportunities of certain groups of voters and delays the execution of the calendar plan set by the Central Election Commission.
“As the elections will take place on a workday, the Moldovan voters abroad and the Transnistrians will not be able to make their choice. Thus, their right to vote is infringed. The obligation to vote at the temporary place of residence and the lack of additional regulations make the participation of students that are in some other places difficult,” said Ion Guzun, jurist at Promo-LEX.
The observers reported occurrences of undue influence on voters, excessive involvement of law enforcement agencies into the electoral process, undue involvement of underage citizens into campaign activities, and preferential treatment of some electoral contenders by the local public administration.
By the the end of the monitored period, district electoral councils have not yet made public the information on the boundaries of polling stations, address and contact information of polling stations, despite a deadline date set for July 3. Also, the Central Election Commission has failed to collect from the local public administrations, in pre-established terms, the electoral lists. Some of the submitted lists are incomplete.
Promo-LEX Observers have noted that the recommendations made by national monitoring groups in 2005 and 2009 have been implemented in a reduced and selective manner. For the upcoming early elections, the election authorities did not announced the opening of additional polling stations to ensure the voting rights of citizens lfrom the Transnistrian region. Authorities have not investigated the cases of violation of electoral legislation reported by monitoring groups. The electoral lists continue to be a major concern. It remains unclear who holds the final responsibility for drawing up electoral lists. Electoral administration has ordered application of a special stamp on the accompanying sheets of voters ID, without taking any other measures to prevent multiple voting.
Promo-LEX will continue to monitor the election process and will publish other monitoring reports to election day. The project is being implemented with financial support provided by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
For more information please contact Association President Promo-LEX, Ion Manole, tel. 49.26.84, e-mail: [email protected]
DOC – Report No 1