(Română) Actualități Electorale Mai 2025

ADEPT Launches Monthly Digest “ELECTORAL UPDATES”

The Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT is launching a monthly summary under the title “Electoral Updates”, which includes the most relevant information on the activity of the Central Electoral Commission, Parliament, and developments in the legal framework, cases of electoral corruption, and other essential topics concerning the integrity of the electoral process.

Voter Corruption Investigations in the 2024 Elections

Since the end of March 2024, the competence to identify cases of passive electoral corruption has been transferred from the National Anticorruption Center (CNA) to the General Police Inspectorate (GPI), a move that has accelerated the documentation and sanctioning process. According to data provided by the GPI, approximately 11,000 contravention reports have been issued for passive electoral corruption—targeting individuals who accepted money or services in exchange for votes. Of these, around 6,000 have been challenged in court.

The total value of the imposed fines exceeds 2 million lei, but this figure reflects a low compliance rate, suggesting that fewer than 100 individuals have actually paid their fines. It is worth recalling that, in the context of the 2024 presidential elections and the constitutional referendum, the GPI identified a list of over 130,000 voters suspected of having received payments for a specific voting option.

Nine individuals from Edineț have been sent to court for alleged electoral bribery, accused of offering money and organizing a trip to Moscow to influence voters to vote against European integration and in favor of candidates supported by a party declared unconstitutional during the 2024 elections.

Sanctions for Irregularities in Political Party Financial Reporting

At the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) meeting on May 13, 2025, two important decisions were adopted regarding political parties’ financial management reports for the second half of 2024. According to the Electoral Code (Art. 26) and Law No. 294/2007, political parties are required to submit annual financial reports to the CEC exclusively in electronic format via the “Financial Control” system (SSI) by March 31 of the following year.

The CEC is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and verifying these reports and sanctioning violations, including through referrals to the Ministry of Justice.

The CEC found that out of 65 registered political parties, 60 submitted financial reports, but only 54 complied with the deadline and legal format. For 11 parties that failed to submit or submitted them improperly—such as the Socialist Party of Moldova (not to be confused with PSRM), “Șansă” Political Party, and the Alternative Force and Rescue of Moldova Party, among others—the CEC initiated contravention proceedings, and for another 6 parties, it referred the cases to the Ministry of Justice for possible suspension or dissolution.

The Ministry of Justice has already initiated legal proceedings, with the Bălți District Court approving the dissolution of the Party of Regions of Moldova. Cases against the “ȘANSĂ” Party and the Conservative Party are still ongoing.

Regarding donations, 15 parties reported income exceeding 8.9 million lei from individuals. The CEC found that several donations exceeded the legal limit (6 average monthly salaries or 30% of the donor’s annual income), either in absolute value or as a share of annual income, and ordered the return of those amounts to the state budget. These included:

• Coalition for Unity and Welfare Party (1 donor),

• Party of Action and Solidarity (3 donors),

• Common Action Party – Civic Congress (6 donors).

The CEC also initiated proceedings against individuals for illegal donations and found irregularities in cash donation reporting, including the absence of fiscal receipts or supporting documents.

Amendments to Electoral Legislation

Draft Law No. 381 – Combating Electoral Corruption
Adopted in second reading on April 30, and awaiting final vote in the coming days, this bill proposes stricter penalties for electoral corruption—including vote buying and illegal financing of political parties—especially when committed by individuals acting in their own interest, criminal groups, or foreign entities. Other changes aim to expedite legal proceedings on electoral corruption, combat extremism, and ban parties considered successors to previously outlawed ones.

On April 29, OSCE/ODIHR published an Urgent Opinion on Draft No. 381, expressing concern over vague definitions related to extremism, which could be open to abuse. Amendment No. 6 was introduced the same day to address concerns about successor parties.

Draft Law No. 151 – Postal Voting
Adopted in first reading on April 30, this bill would introduce postal voting for Moldovan citizens abroad, including those residing in Australia and Japan.

Draft Law No. 152 – Amendments to the Electoral Code
Also adopted in first reading, this bill introduces technical revisions to the Electoral Code, including the concept of a “camouflaged electoral bloc,” with the CEC empowered to define the criteria. However, the concept is being challenged by opposition parties through a proposed amendment.

CALC Council members actively participated in public consultations on the above draft laws, highlighting several substantive and procedural concerns.

Criminal Cases Related to Electoral Corruption

A high-profile case involves the Governor (Bașkan) of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul. On May 12, her house arrest was extended by 30 days in the case concerning illegal campaign financing during her 2023 campaign. A verdict is expected soon.

In the 2023 illegal financing case of the Șor Party, in which both Evghenia Guțul and Svetlana Popan (Party Secretary) are implicated, two more witnesses were heard regarding contracts for organized transport services for protests via the “Orhei-Transport” Municipal Enterprise.

Cases involving MPs Irina Lozovan and Alexandr Nesterovschi have made little progress. Both are wanted by Interpol. On March 19, 2025, Nesterovschi was sentenced to 12 years in prison for passive bribery and accepting illegal financing from an organized criminal group. His colleague Irina Lozovan received a 6-year sentence on March 31, 2025, for electoral corruption and illegal financing of parties affiliated with the Șor movement, related to the 2023 local elections.

Șor Party MP Marina Tauber, who fled Moldova in January 2025, was seen at a Șor Party event in Moscow marking Victory Day (May 9). She is the subject of two criminal cases for knowingly accepting financing from a criminal organization and falsifying the 2022 financial report of the Șor Party.

New Local Elections

On May 18, new local elections were held in the following localities:

• Călugăr Commune (Fălești District)

• Chiperceni Commune (Orhei District)

• Talmaza Village (Ștefan-Vodă District)

• Boldurești Commune (Nisporeni District)

• Tabani Village (Briceni District)

• Temeleuți Village (Florești District)

The CEC reported a turnout of 6,687 voters, or 39.71%, across the 13 polling stations. Preliminary results have been published.

Upcoming Gagauzia Popular Assembly Elections

In 2025, elections for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia are due. According to current legislation, new elections must be held within three months of the expiration of the Assembly’s term. The date has not yet been set.