Chisinau, May 25, 2022 – Promo-LEX experts have drawn up and submitted for examination more than 260 proposals to improve the national electoral law. The proposals have been debated today during the presentation of the draft Electoral Code and proposals to amend the related legislation, organized by the Central Election Commission in partnership with the Promo-LEX Association.
Representatives of central authorities, political parties, civil society and development partners participated in the debates; they analyzed and presented their views on electoral reform.
At the opening of the event, the executive director of Promo-LEX Ion Manole mentioned that the 260 proposals on the amendment of electoral legislation, drawn up by the experts, are based on the analysis of the recent developments in electoral field in Europe, the 30-year-experience of multipartyism in the Republic of Moldova and some decisions of Constitutional Court, the provisions of which are mandatory, as well as on the findings of numerous election observation missions.
The opinion of Promo-LEX on the recommended amendments was presented by the Association’s program director, Nicolae Panfil, who referred to most chapters of the existing Electoral Code, including the right to vote and to be elected, electoral bodies, material provision of elections and financing of electoral campaigns, electoral rolls, nomination and registration of candidates, etc.
The speaker welcomed the initiative to perpetuate the activity of electoral bodies and to ensure that and the CEC has in its composition 7 members, 2 of which will proportionally represent the parliamentary majority and the opposition. At the same time, to avoid the risk that the CEC members appointed by the Parliament and the Government represent only the parliamentary majority, Promo-LEX recommends that one of the two members that is to be appointed by the Government represent civil society organizations, as well as one of the two members appointed by the Superior Council of Magistracy should be a doctor of law.
Other regulations provide for the extension of categories of personal data from the financial statements of political parties and electoral contestants to be made public. These data will include the first and last name, place of employment and the public office or dignitary position held where applicable, as well as the date of the donation, the amount donated and the manner in which the donation was made.
Likewise, considering that about 80-85% of the expenses of the electoral contestants account for advertising, Promo-LEX appreciates the intention of the CEC to check more closely these costs by requesting the media service providers to present weekly, during the electoral period, information on the revenues obtained from political/ electoral advertising. However, experts consider it necessary that this information, along with the data on the conditions of providing the advertising spot (including the price / minute) be made public on the CEC’s webpage.
The adjustment with regard to the organization of elections during two days is accepted by Promo-LEX, but it comes with the insistent recommendation to establish in the Electoral Code the list of objective reasons for which such a derogation will be allowed.
The Association also appreciated the intention of the CEC to organize polling stations for one or several settlements, in which, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, there are at least 500 citizens of the Republic of Moldova with the right to vote, temporarily or permanently domiciled abroad.
In the same vein, Promo-LEX supports the improvement of the mechanism for setting up polling stations for voters in the Transnistrian region, by comparing the data from the State Register of Voters with the dynamics of participation in the last 3 national polls. However, Promo-LEX is categorically against discretion in the organization of elections for the voters of Transnistrian region and considers that it is the duty of the Republic of Moldova to ensure minimum conditions for all its citizens to execute their voting rights.
Promo-LEX experts want to have a transparent process of public consultations, expertise and analysis of modernization of electoral legislation and recommend that the authorities follow all the necessary procedures.
For more details on the adjustments proposed by the Promo-LEX Association to the Electoral Code and recommendations for its improvement, please access the OPINION of Promo-LEX.
The Central Election Commission announced, at the beginning of this year, the initiation of the elaboration and public consultation of the draft decision “On the submission of proposals to amend the Electoral Code and related legislation”.
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For more information:
Mariana Novac, Program Coordinator, Promo-LEX Association, mob: (+373) 69339700