ADEPT Press Club in Bălți: How Prepared Are We for Free and Fair Elections?

ADEPT hosted the sixth edition of its Press Club in Bălți, bringing together representatives of the Central Electoral Commission, the General Police Inspectorate, experts, and journalists from northern Moldova.

Strengthening public trust, ensuring transparency, and guaranteeing access to accurate information were highlighted as key elements in preparing for this year’s elections. Under the umbrella of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (CALC) and with financial support from UNDP Moldova, the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT) facilitated a direct dialogue between authorities and the media in the north of the country.

The event featured Pavel Postică, Vice President of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), and Alexandru Lupan, Deputy Head of the General Police Inspectorate (IGP). They explained how their institutions are working together to prevent electoral corruption and safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.

Electoral corruption and attempts at foreign interference have marred previous elections, with new challenges becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect. Officials warned that the latest schemes carry heightened risks, from vote-buying and disinformation to incentivizing participation in paid protests.

The leadership of the CEC and IGP reiterated their strong commitment to fighting these illicit practices and implementing effective safeguards to protect the integrity of the ballot. They also emphasized the importance of informing voters about the risks, in order to discourage involvement in electoral corruption.

“The event gave journalists from across northern Moldova the chance to ask direct questions and receive well-documented answers from the responsible institutions. The discussions clarified how the new provisions of Law No. 100/2025 will work in practice and strengthened dialogue between state authorities and the media—a crucial element for ensuring transparency and accurate information for citizens,” noted Polina Panainte, ADEPT’s Deputy Director and Secretary of the CALC Coalition.

ADEPT reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accurate public information, strengthening partnerships between authorities, civil society, and the press. In an election year marked by an intense battle over information integrity, the ADEPT Press Club helps build public trust in institutions and reinforce democratic resilience.

The event was organized by the ADEPT Association as part of the project “Strengthening Democratic Resilience in Moldova”, implemented by UNDP Moldova and funded by Norway, Canada, Sweden, and Denmark.