The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum is concerned about the prospect of Moldova being captured by oligarchic clans and having its constitutional institutions brought under their control. According to the organization, there is a high probability that the forthcoming election will mark a major step in this direction.
According to a statement issued in Brussels, the Steering Committee urges that the relevant institutions of the European Union react strongly if widespread electoral fraud is reported or if the election is invalidated, as happened in Chisinau last year. Were this to be the case the EU should consider imposing sanctions against officials responsible for any such decision. The report on the election by observers from PACE as well as the European Parliament and from the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights will be important in this respect.
The Committee calls on Moldova’s judicial and electoral institutions to ensure that the country’s citizens will be able to fully exercise their democratic rights. “We look to domestic and international observers to give a truthful account of the election campaign and the voting on election day,” it stated.
The Committee notes with concern a preliminary report by a group of election observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) who stated last month after a visit to Moldova that a number of long-standing concerns still remain unaddressed, such as cases of misuse of administrative resources, cases of distribution of electoral gifts during election campaign events involving charitable foundations associated with certain political parties.
“We are also alarmed that the ruling Democratic Party and Șor Party have in the meanwhile sought to intimidate the Promo-Lex Association, by publicly questioning its professionalism and impartiality. Promo-LEX, a Moldovan NGO which is a lead monitor of the electoral process and enjoys our full confidence, has denied these charges.”
Founded in 2009, the Civil Society Forum is an active player in the promotion of the Eastern Partnership objectives concerning democratization and European integration of the member states. The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum includes not more than 13 members elected for a period of a year. Moldova is now represented on the Committee by Petru Macovei, executive director of the Association of Independent Press.
