The upcoming presidential election and constitutional referendum on 20 October 2024 could be a turning point for bolstering democracy and strengthening state institutions. Moldovan authorities are faced with the difficult task of ensuring the integrity and security of the vote whilst simultaneously upholding the core values of the Council of Europe, said a pre-election delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which concluded a visit to the Republic of Moldova on 17-18 September, IPN reports.

Led by Thórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir (Iceland, SOC), the six-member cross-party PACE delegation called on all political actors to respect the Electoral Code and refrain from corruption or illegal tactics.

According to a press release of the PACE, the delegation acknowledged the 2022 Electoral Code reforms, which addressed long-standing recommendations and set a stronger framework for the upcoming elections. They also noted positively the increase in the number of polling stations abroad and a new partial postal voting initiative.

The delegation noted that while the Republic of Moldova has made significant strides, particularly in securing EU candidate status and beginning accession talks, it was brought to the attention of the delegation that these achievements were under siege from mounting geopolitical pressures. Kremlin-backed disinformation, illicit financing, and alleged vote-buying pose serious threats to Moldova’s sovereignty, security, and election integrity.

The delegation urged the Moldovan government and the CEC to ramp up public awareness about these threats, while ensuring that efforts to combat disinformation do not stifle free speech or hinder open political competition. With just a month left, they stressed the importance of engaging voters and ensuring public officials remain neutral.

Despite a longstanding political imbalance in its composition, the CEC must maintain its integrity, especially in handling the complex registration process. The coming month will test both the government and the CEC’s ability to ensure a level playing field.

Though not all issues could be resolved before election day, the delegation urged Moldovan authorities to address what they can. PACE will send a full team to observe the 20 October votes alongside OSCE/ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the European Parliament, with conclusions to follow after the elections.