CEC dismisses allegations of illegal registration of participants in referendum

The Central Election Commission (CEC) issued a press release to dismiss the allegations recently formulated by a number of nongovernmental organizations and to make clarifications about the registration of campaigners in the upcoming referendum who stated their intention to dissuade voters from taking part in the poll, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Commission recalls the Code of Good Practice on Referenda, adopted by the Venice Commission in 2008, which expressly distinguishes between an electoral campaign and a referendum campaign. According to these guidelines, the political parties have the right to boycott the referendum, this option being equivalent to a “no” option. The CEC believes that this document should represent reference standards on how to organize and hold referenda and that it should fill the regulation gaps in the national legislation. “The decision to register participants in the referendum has been correct, legal and in compliance with European standards in the field and (the CEC) regrets any statements on this issue that can harm the reputation of the institution”, reads the press release. On August 19, the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections requested that CEC should give explanations on the registration of certain participants in the referendum who stated that they would boycott the referendum, whereas Parliament established only two options, either for or against the amendment of Art.78.