Promo-LEX: Dynamic electoral campaign, but with deviations

Promo-LEX Association launches its second election monitoring report which covers the period April 18 to May 5.

During the reported period, the monitoring effort found that the local public administration has generally complied with the election legislation provisions on campaign display, even though observers have reported some exceptions in this sense. In this regards, the isolated cases of position abuse by central public administration officials in campaign activities can be included.

Observers noted and welcome the neutrality of election bodies’ members and a conscious performance of their functional tasks. Observers have reported cases of irregular interpretations and shallow knowledge of the legal norms concerning candidates’ registration, presenting by candidates of the financial reports, certification of voting, inclusion or exclusion of voters from electoral rolls, access to electoral rolls and changing their content. The technical and logistical assistance of PEBs, the frequent changes in the composition of election bodies and respecting the activity schedule remain alarming.

Observers have noted a dynamic election campaign, marked in particular by the organized launch of the political parties and independent candidates to elective office. Moreover, observers noted that candidates used diverse methods of campaigning, as well as the obvious decrease in the number of electoral posters placed in unauthorized places. On the other hand, Promo-LEX observers, remain very concerned of the isolated cases of violence and intimidation (at least 8 cases reported), black PR methods (at least 7 cases reported), and the considerable number of cases when using the administrative resources (at least 37 cases reported) and gifts in the electoral context (at least 86 cases reported from all districts). The Promo-LEX monitoring effort remains worried over candidates opacity in declaring electoral funds and other material support used in campaign.

In context, Promo-LEX calls on candidates to reflect in financial reports the obvious expenses related to electoral concerts (at least 91 cases reported), transport and editing campaign material (reports of at least 15 competitors in at least 18 districts not complying with the requirements). At the same time, observers mention the extremely small number of complaints submitted by candidates and voters, compared to the deficiencies noted by the observers, result of notifications received from these.

The Promo-LEX monitoring effort notes the continued and active involvement of local and regional mass-media in the presentation of information on candidates and in conducting the electoral debates. Nevertheless, some legal shortcomings have been noted related to the authentication of the electoral advertising authors in accordance with legal provisions.

Promo-LEX monitoring effort reminds that it is not an investigative body and is not intended to prove the observed findings. The more than 2,000 standardized reports of the observers served as the only source for drafting the public reports of the monitoring effort.

For more details, contact: Carolina Bondarciuc, Public Relations Officer
Tel: (22) 450024, GSM: 069637849, e-mail: pr@promolex.md

The full copy of the report is available below.