The observation mission of “Promo-LEX” Association ascertained increased activism among already registered electoral competitors or potential competitors before the parliamentary elections held based on the mixed electoral system. In the monitoring period, December 10 – January 8, there were staged about 280 events, approximately 100 of which can be described as offering of presents in the electoral period, shows the second report of the parliamentary election observation mission that was presented by “Promo-LEX” Association on January 10, IPN reports.
The election campaign starts on January 25, 2019 and the registered electoral contenders can hold electoral events to increase their political advantages in the period. However, electoral activities staged by political parties were already identified in the monitored period, analyst of the Association Mariana Focșa stated in a news conference.
Among the most active parties that organized electoral events are the Party of Socialists, the Shor Party and the Democratic Party. These parties offered electoral presents on the occasion of the winter public holidays, staged meetings and concerts and distributed brochures.
According to the observers, there were also identified cases of involvement of charitable foundations associated with political parties in electoral activities, namely the charitable foundation “From the heart” that is associated with the Party of Socialists and the charitable foundation “Miron Șor” associated with the Shor Party.
In the monitored period, the observers of “Promo-LEX” reported at least ten cases that can be described as use of administrative resources. The Democratic Party is involved in seven cases of these, the Shor Party in two cases, while the Our Party in one case. Also, the President of Moldova became involved in the promotion of candidates fielded by the Party of Socialists for MP. The Democratic Party and the Shor Party involved foreign persons in electoral activities.
The observation mission also determined cases of non-reporting of costs by initiative groups. About 40% of the initiative groups, including those set up by six parties, didn’t present the weekly financial report to the CEC, which is against the regulations on the activity of initiative groups.
According to “Promo-LEX”, the largest costs that weren’t reported by the initiative groups that submitted reports to the CEC were incurred by the Shor Party, the Party of Socialists and the Democratic Party to organize public events. The total costs that weren’t reported by these were estimated at minimum 1 584 821 lei.
Furthermore, at least three potential competitors – the Shor Party, the Party of Socialists and the Democratic Party – in the period before the registration of initiative groups incurred costs for organizing electoral activities and for collecting signatures. At least 3 766 917 lei wasn’t included in the electoral fund. However, under the current legislation, these costs should be mandatorily included in the final reports of the given parties for 2018.
