The Election Code defines campaigning or electoral agitation as actions taken to prepare and broadcast information aimed at persuading the people to vote for particular electoral contenders. Electoral agitation is allowed since the moment the election campaign is launched. Campaigning for the parliamentary elections of February 24, 2019 starts on January 24, 30 days before the election day.
The citizens of the Republic of Moldova, parties and other sociopolitical organizations, electoral blocs, candidates and trustworthy persons of candidates can campaign. They can subject to free discussions and from all angles the electoral programs of election runners, political, professional and personal qualities of candidates and can campaign at assemblies, protests and meetings with voters through the agency of the mass media, through electoral posters or other communication ways.
Electoral agitation is permitted only after the electoral contender is registered by the electoral body. The electoral contenders are banned from involving persons who are not citizens of the Republic of Moldova in campaigning in any form.
The electoral contenders can organize meetings with voters, the authorities of the local public administration being obliged to make sure such meetings are held in equal conditions. The electoral bodies can be notified if irregularities are identified in the organization and holding of meetings.
The candidates cannot use public means and goods, i.e. administrative resources, in election campaigns, while the authorities and public institutions and those assimilated by these cannot transmit or provide public goods or other favors to electoral contenders, except for those allowed on a contract basis, in equal conditions for all the electoral competitors.
Images representing state institutions or public authorities from the country and abroad or international organizations cannot be used in campaign advertising. It is not allowed combining colors or sounds that invoke national symbols of the Republic of Moldova or another state or using materials showing historical personalities from the Republic of Moldova or other countries, the symbols of other states or international organizations or the image of foreign officials.
The local public authorities are obliged, within three days of the start of the electoral period, to set up and guarantee a minimum of special places for electoral advertisements and a minimum of places for holding meetings with voters. The given decisions are posted immediately at the head office of these authorities and are communicated to the interested subjects through the agency of the mass media or other available communication means.
Electoral agitation will be permitted on the election day, except for polling places and entrances to them. Amendments to this effect were adopted by Parliament on November 23, 2018.
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The IPN division “Elections in plain words” is designed to explain notions, terms and practices related to the parliamentary elections based on the mixed electoral system and the consultative referendum that will take place on February 24, 2019.
