Lawyer Dumitru Pavel, university professor Dorin Cimil and presidential aide Maxim Lebedinschi have been confirmed by Parliament to the Central Electoral Commission today.

During debate time, Democrat Serghei Sîrbu said the selection process didn’t respect the principle of government-opposition proportionality. Sergiu Litvinenco (ACUM/PAS), chair of the Legal Commission, replied that PDM already had two CEC members. The phrasing apparently irritated Sîrbu, who responded that PDM actually did not have any party member on the electoral body, as CEC members relinquish partisanship upon taking the oath of office.

Defending the nominations, Socialist Vlad Batrîncea said the proposed CEC members met all the legal and professional conditions.

Asked by Democrat Andrian Candu about their priorities, Dorin Cimil named the harmonization of the electoral law with the current realities; Dumitru Pavel spoke about how important it was to put into practice the will of the people as expressed in elections; and Maxim Lebedinschi said it was key to improve the reputation of CEC, including internationally.

The three seats on the Central Electoral Commission fell vacant after the resignation of the members Rodica Ciubotaru and Iurie Ciocan and chairwoman Alina Russu.

Moldova’s electoral body is composed of nine members, with one appointed by the President, and eight by Parliament in a way that represents proportionally both the ruling majority and the opposition.