At least 42 cases of hate speech and other forms of intolerance were identified between October 7 and 24 by the Promo-LEX Election Observation Mission. Of these, 41 cases took place in an electoral context. Most of the cases, 31 in number, were spread through mobile apps and social media. Both before October 20 and after the first round of the presidential election, there was hate speech on the grounds of ‘ethnic origin’. As with the 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity' criteria, the 'ethnic origin' criterion underpinned different forms of hate speech, from the promotion of stereotypes to the promotion and justification of discrimination.
During the monitored period, the cases of hate speech took the form of promotion of stereotypes, sexist language, homophobic speech, promotion and justification of discrimination, as well as incitement to violence. Men between the ages of 35 and 50 used hate speech most often. The 41 cases of hate speech were viewed more than 2 million times and shared more than 20,000 times. "We consider that in a civilized election campaign, such messages are inappropriate. Respectively, there is a legal framework that stipulates punishment for hate speech and incitement to discrimination. We expect the police to do their job and penalize such cases in the future," Nicolae Panfil, head of the Promo-LEX Election Observation Mission, said at a news conference held to present the Mission’s fifth report, IPN reports.
Also, at least eight cases of abusive use of administrative resources targeting Maia Sandu, the candidate of the Party of Action and Solidarity in the presidential elections, were identified. On October 24, in Ungheni town, a general assembly with parents of students of “Vasile Alecsandri” Theoretical Lyceum was held during working hours. At this, the district’s head Dionisie Ternovschi (PAS), gave a speech, promising to help the institution obtain funding for the construction of a sports hall, but on one condition: to support the European path and Maia Sandu.
On October 25, Roman Botezat, parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox Parish "Protection of the Mother of God" in Dondușeni town, published on his social media page a number of posts, arguing why Maia Sandu should be voted on November 3. Political campaigning was also observed in the case of trade unions. Thus, on October 28, a message placed on the Facebook page of the Federation of Education and Science Trade Unions, urging to say "a firm YES, further, to the European future of the Republic of Moldova, with a candidate for President who honestly and with dignity opened the path of our country to the European Union, who is associated with the European course of the Republic of Moldova! We vote for the European future! We save Moldova!", reads the message.
Between October 23 and 29, 2024, according to Promo-LEX observers, the two runoff election contestants carried out at least 268 promotional activities, of which 57% for Alexandr Stoianoglo, the candidate of the Party of Socialists, and 43% for Maia Sandu, the candidate of the Party of Action and Solidarity. Among the most used forms of political campaigning were the distribution of electoral information materials – 93% of the activities, and meetings with voters – 5%.
For October 23 – 27, the two electoral contestants reported revenues of 2,062,560 lei, of which 5% from donations. In the case of both of the candidates, the Promo-LEX Observation Mission estimated unreported costs of at least 733,416 lei, with 90% of them applying to Alexandr Stoianoglo (PSRM)
The report was compiled by the October 20, 2024 presidential election and constitutional referendum Observation Mission of the Promo-LEX Association.
