Any suspicion regarding the fairness of the June 3 elections could affect Moldova’s image – US official

The USA calls on Moldovan authorities to ensure free and fair elections on June 3, and a corresponding election campaign. The appeal was framed by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer, at a news conference held on Thursday, April 26. According to the US official, at a meeting with President Vladimir Voronin, he explained to the head of state that any suspicion regarding the polls’ fairness will damage Moldova’s reputation abroad and will question the commitments officially assumed by Chisinau. As Kramer says, both foreign donors and the USA will regard these elections as a test of democracy, and that is why “we all must seek to make these elections free and fair”. The US official underlined that the local elections scheduled for June will be an important test for authorities, while the USA and the entire EU will closely observe the organisation of this process, in particular on the day of elections. The procedures for drawing up the lists of voters, for ensuring the confidentiality of the polls and for implementing the right to vote of each citizen will be also eyed. David Kramer mentioned that the elections by themselves are appraised not only based on the day of elections. The election campaign and all pre-electoral actions, electoral competitors’ equal access to media, interaction of candidates with voters are also important etc. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer says that free and fair elections are key for furthering and strengthening democracy worldwide. The official also said that for the most part, the elections labelled free and fair, while the recent elections of the governor of Gagauzia were a good example worthy of following.