The elections of February 24, 2019 are not inclusive. An analysis carried out by nongovernmental organizations shows the persons with disabilities cannot be found on the lists of candidates of the first six registered electoral contenders. The persons of Roma ethnicity, the young people and women are included insufficiently.
Alina Andronache, of the Partnership for Development Center, in a news conference at IPN said all the registered electoral contenders respected the Election Code provisions concerning the minimum women’s representation quota of 40%. The average figure of women’s representation on the lists of candidates is 41.5%. At first sight, this mean that the number of female candidates is by 10% higher than at the presidential elections. But when the place on the list is analyzed, it is seen that only 18% of the women are on the first ten positions. In single-member constituencies, the number of female candidate is lower. Of the 4,012 candidates registered until now, only 81 are women and more than half of these run independently. The parties promote women because they are forced by law. That’s why the women are not on eligible places, but on places that provide fewer chances of entering Parliament.
Secretary general of the National Youth Council Ana Îndoitu said the parties practically do not have young people on their lists and do not promote the interests of young people in electoral platforms. The young people on the lists of candidates in the national constituency represent less than 30%. Of all the 294 candidates of the first six electoral contenders, only 59 are young. A number of 47 candidates are from urban areas and only 12 are from rural areas. Only three young people were placed on the first 15 positions and have chances of entering Parliament.
According to Ion Duminică, consultant at East Europe Foundation, three persons of Roma ethnicity were placed on the lists of candidates so far. Two persons are members of electoral councils of single-member constituencies. Seven are members of initiative groups for collecting signatures in support of candidates for MP.
Analyzing the accessibility of information, Andrei Brighidin, of East Europe Foundation, said it was established that the information published on websites is accessible, but the electoral platforms published by candidates are not in a format friendly to persons with intellectual disabilities.
The monitoring report “How inclusive elections of 2019 are?!” was compiled by East Europe Foundation, the Partnership for Development Center and the Union “Țărnă Rom”. The monitoring is held as part of the project “Civil society advocacy for inclusive and fair elections in Moldova, compliant with EU and OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and human rights commitments” that is implemented by East Europe Foundation in partnership with the Partnership for Development Center, Piligrim Demo and the Union “Țărnă Rom” during January 2018 - June 2020 and is financed by the EU and co-financed by the Government of Sweden.
