Promo-LEX launched the second Report on Monitoring Parliamentary Elections 2014: Poor electoral legislation hamper the start of the campaign

On 16 October Promo-LEX Association launched the second Report on Monitoring Parliamentary Elections of 30 November 2014. The report covers electoral period from 24 September to 15 October and shows findings reported by observers.

Monitoring effort of Promo-LEX has found that the start of electoral campaign took place without major violations, having a quasi-unbiased record of electoral administration. During this period, Central Electoral Commission elaborated a number of regulations and instructions meant to improve the normative framework and has accredited national and international observers. Beginning with 10 October 2014, CEC registered 16 electoral contestants, and 7 persons picked up petitions for collecting signatures, required for electoral registration.

CEC established the amount of 55 mln. Lei as a ceiling of financial resources that may be transferred into the electoral fund. It is noteworthy to mention that this ceiling is considerably greater, more than two times, comparing to previous elections. For early elections from 28 November 2010 the ceiling amounted to 21 664 445 lei, whereas for new local elections from 5 June 2011 – almost 22 142 345 lei. Instead, for electoral contestants – independent candidates during 2014 campaign the ceiling was reduced with over 7%.

Though the opening of “Electoral funds” was not registered at CEC, Promo-LEX observers noticed numerous activities aiming at promoting the image of potential and actual electoral contestants (DPM, LDPM, PCRM, LP, PSRM, Christian–Democratic Popular Party and the citizen Renato Usatîi). Thus, these incurred expenses for organizing electorally biased concerts, placing of electoral posters, polygraphic advertising, improving local infrastructure, construction of buildings and monuments.

Central Electoral Commission set up 37 electoral districts. However, there were not set up two electoral districts of Bender municipality and territorial-administrative unit of II level transnistrian region. Along these lines, we noticed that both central public administration and electoral administration had not initiated previous discussions regarding the improvement of participation of citizens from eastern districts of the Republic of Moldova in electoral process.

Likewise, during the reporting period first electoral incidents were registered, cases of administrative resource use, giving electoral gifts, and the involvement of regional and local media in support or against some electoral actors. Thus, in Rezina and Sângerei districts first cases of intimidation and pressure on voters were registered. Monitoring effort has also found the cases of giving gifts and other material goods by some political parties. According to Promo-LEX observers, at least 4 political parties (LP, LDPM, PSRM, DPM) have given gifts with electoral meaning in 9 districts of the country. At the same time, Promo-LEX observers have reported multiple electorally biased articles in local and regional media concerning DPM, LDPM, LP, PCRM, LRP and the citizen Renato Usatîi.

The Monitoring Effort of Parliamentary Elections of 30 November 2014 is conducted by Promo-LEX Association within the framework of the Monitoring Democratic Processes Program. The Monitoring Effort fits into activities undertaken by civil society under the aegis of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.

The Monitoring Effort of Parliamentary Elections of 30 November 2014 benefits of technical assistance from the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Council of Europe and Stefan Batory Foundation from the resource offered by the Solidarity Fund through “Support for Democracy” Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.

The opinions expressed in this report belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the donors.

For additional information, please contact:
Galina Sanduța, Press Officer Monitoring Effort Promo-LEX
Telephone: 069 95 82 89069 95 82 89, E-mail: galina.sanduta@promoLEX.md