APPEAL TO THE CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO LAUNCH A CODE OF CONDUCT IN THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN AND ENSURE ITS IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING

The Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (CALC) appeals to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to initiate the development of a Code of Conduct in the Electoral Campaign for all actors and institutions involved in the electoral process – electoral contenders, authorities, and the mass media.

The increasing disputes between political groups or potential electoral contenders should not diminish the importance of adopting and formalizing certain norms of conduct, based on fundamental principles of free and fair elections, to be observed by all electoral actors. CALC’s request aims at the fulfillment of the provisions of Art. 22, let. r) of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova, which stipulates that CEC’s responsibilities include organizing consulting sessions with political parties, other social-political organizations, electoral blocks, as well as mass media representatives, to discuss the development and adoption of the aforementioned Code of Conduct before the launch of the campaigning period.

On the other hand, we would like to note the responsibilities of the Central Electoral Commission mentioned in Art. 22, let. q) of the Electoral Code, which stipulates that the CEC, as an entity specialized in elections, ought to analyze cases of electoral fraud, including in alleged cases, from former, current, or future elections, and take preemptive measures; it informs public authorities about issues pending resolution, according to electoral legislation. Therefore, we appeal the CEC to monitor implementation of the Code of Conduct by its signees, as well as by the entities who will refuse to endorse it.

CALC believes the aforementioned provisions of the Electoral Code should be noted in the CEC election calendar for the Parliamentary Elections on February 24, 2019. To that end, it is important that the development, release, and signing intervals of the Code of Conduct be reasonably set with respect to all actors in the electoral process.