Some institutions delivered results during last year’s electoral campaign, while others acted more as “observers,” notes the President of Parliament, Igor Grosu. According to the head of the legislature, the presidential election and the referendum on European integration were a resilience test for several institutions, IPN reports.
“Some institutions adopted a wait-and-see approach, and that wouldn’t have been a problem if it hadn’t happened in a context where the main political exercise, the quintessence of democracy - the vote - was subjected to unprecedented pressure and interference”, stated Igor Grosu.
The statements were made during a post-election analysis conference titled: “Presidential Elections and the Republican Constitutional Referendum in the Republic of Moldova, October 20, 2024: Lessons Learned, Recommendations, and Perspectives”.
According to the head of the legislature, the temptation to influence the electoral process and commit fraud is evolving and mutating from one election to another.
“This time, I believe we saw an unprecedented intensity and example, where organized criminal and political groups, with the help of a state actor – Russia - coordinated their actions to influence and compromise the electoral process”, stated Igor Grosu.
The legal framework requires constant improvement, according to Grosu. Authorities are continuously testing new instruments, such as postal voting and the digitalization of the electoral process. The government’s decision, made three years ago, to primarily invest in two institutions - the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and the Audiovisual Council - was the right political decision, emphasized the President of Parliament.
“A bill, 381, is currently under discussion in Parliament, proposing multiple amendments to the Electoral Code, the Criminal Code, the Audiovisual Code, and other laws that impact the proper conduct of the electoral process,” added Igor Grosu.
The head of the legislature noted that the authorities have focused on toughening penalties for those involved in electoral bribery. Additionally, steps are being taken to reduce the time required to investigate such cases and issue a final decision.
“The Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary - it is very important that these two structures, which represent a power in the state, fully contribute to defending the electoral process,” declared Igor Grosu.
Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, stated during the event that in the upcoming parliamentary elections, everyone must be prepared, as the challenges faced so far could reoccur and even intensify.
“The Council of Europe supports the CEC and other institutions in improving the legal framework, including the recent introduction of postal voting, the digitalization of voting processes, and the supervision of political party financing”, emphasized Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau.
