Appellate Court orders changes in organizing electoral debates

Independent candidate Stefan Uratu presented a decision of the Appellate Court on Wednesday at a news conference, which orders the Central Election Commission (CEC) to oblige TV7 to modify the way of organizing the electoral debates, Info-Prim Neo reports. Stefan Uratu did not agree with the decision of that TV station to separate the drawing of lots for political parties and for the independent candidates. “I consider this way of drawing lots as depriving me from my right to discuss my electoral program with the platforms of political parties,” Stefan Uratu said. The CEC is to make a decision in this respect at its sitting of March 27. The procedure of separating the independent candidates from the political parties in TV electoral debates is also used by EuTV. Analitic Media Grup manager Anatol Golea has told Info-Prim Neo the station will abide by the law, but the CEC has to issue a decision in this respect. According to Golea, the CEC is willing to appeal the court's writ in the Supreme Court of Justice. The journalist says, no matter what the decision of the higher court may be, it will have effects only on the following electoral campaigns.