The correctness and predictability of the electoral process suffered because of the multiple amendments to the legislation made by Parliament in the electoral period, namely on August 15 this year. The organization of the electoral process was difficult and ambiguous owing to the application of the amended legal norms in parallel for two types of elections held the same day, Promo-LEX Association stated in a post-electoral conference.

The observers of Promo-LEX underlined that those who ran independently, especially in the municipalities of Chisinau and Bălți, were disfavored compared with those fielded by political parties in the registration process given the obligation to collect signatures in their support, IPN reports.

The election day was marked by campaigning, faults in electoral registers and voter bribing cases. The Association’s observers reported over 500 incidents within the observation missions during the first round and in runoffs. The figure is yet lower than at the parliamentary elections of February 24, 2019, when over 1,000 incidents were reported. Promo-LEX additionally warns about cases of campaigning on the election day, rumors and voter bribing.

The electoral competitors continue not to report the costs incurred in the election campaign. Promo-LEX estimated that at least 6.104 million lei weren’t declared. Twenty-six election runners omitted to fully indicate the costs incurred in the election campaign.

The quality of the management of the State Population Register, especially at the local general elections, generates questions. The number of voters increased amid a negative rise in the population. The electoral rolls continue to include dead persons or not to include voters.

There were reported many cases of hate speech and instigation to discrimination. Analyzing the types of expression of hatred, the experts established that the cases of sexist prejudice, gender stereotypes in society and prejudice against persons with mental disabilities were the highest in number.

The first round of the local general elections and new parliamentary elections in four single-member constituencies were held on October 20. The runoffs in the communities that didn’t elect their mayor in the first round took place on November 3.