The Promo-LEX Association will monitor the entire electoral process in Gagauzia for the first time, during the elections for the position of governor and for the Popular Assembly on November 15th. The mission will observe the compliance with electoral norms throughout the pre-election period, the campaign, on election day, and in the post-election period, reports IPN.

“Unlike the year 2023, when we only monitored the election day, this time we aim to and will have a full mission in the field. This includes long-term monitoring of the pre-election period, the campaign, the election day, as well as the post-election period”, stated Nicolae Panfil, program director at Promo-LEX and head of the Observation Mission.

Observers will monitor, among other things, the financing of electoral campaigns, the involvement of third parties, hate speech, and electoral agitation activity online. Citizens will be able to report any irregularities observed during the campaign period or on election day, using online tools. Promo-LEX will also carry out a parallel vote count.

On the day of the scrutiny, 76 short-term observers will be present in all polling stations in Gagauzia. The team will also include long-term observers, distributed throughout the region, as well as mobile teams that will monitor areas near the polling stations.

“We aim to contribute to free and fair elections, where the expressed vote is uninfluenced and assumed. The fact that the regional elections will be regulated by the Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova and will be organized by the Central Electoral Commission imposes increased attention on how political actors and state institutions will implement these norms in practice”, emphasized Igor Bucataru, the head of the Promo-LEX analysis team.

Promo-LEX will present its first monitoring report in mid-October. A second report will be published two days before the elections, and the preliminary findings on the conduct of the vote will be presented on November 16.