CEC postpones examination of PCRM contestation against social ads of IDIS “Viitorul”

The Central Election Commission (CEC) will examine a contestation whereby the Communist Party (PCRM) demands that the Institute for Development and Social Initiative IDIS “Viitorul” and the Independent Press Association (API) are warned over making and broadcasting civic education advertisements at one of its next meetings. After long debates, 5 out of 9 members rejected the contestation filed by the PCRM, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the PCRM representative to the CEC Sergiu Sarbu, a number of video and photo civic education advertising materials contain evident electoral messages against the ruling party. Petru Macovei, the executive director of the API, and Ghenadie Mocanu, expert of IDIS “Viitorul”, said that the accusations are groundless as the advertisements were made according to the civic education strategy adopted by the CEC. The videos start with the words that they are part of an apolitical campaign aimed at encouraging participation in elections. Some of the CEC members said that the ads are political and do not comply with the principles of civic education. A number of representatives of political organizations to the CEC said that the materials present the reality and it is strange that only the PCRM feels targeted. In the end, the members of the Commission decided to draft a new decision that will be discussed and voted on at a new meeting.