Electoral Panel asks politicians not to mislead voters by announcing starts of electoral races

The campaign for the 2009 elections has not started yet, warns the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and asks the political parties not to mislead the electorate by announcing the start of the race, Info-Prim Neo reports. CEC chairman Eugeniu Stirbu reminded, at a news conference on October 6, that the start of the electoral campaign would be announced after the Parliament decided the election date. According to the chairman, the decision is to be adopted by the MPs before leaving for the winter vacation, in the first half of next January, or after the vacation at the end of February. In accordance with the Electoral Code, for each electoral competitor the campaign starts as it is registered with the CEC and ends when it is excluded from the race or on the election day, the CEC chairman said. CEC asks the political parties and movements registered by the Justice Ministry not to make premature statements, thus misleading the population. CEC's secretary Iurie Ciocan has recognized that the CEC does not have levers to punish the parties “defying” the Electoral Code. It's the competence of the Justice Ministry to monitor the work of political parties, he said. Iurie Ciocan announces the CEC will be “very attentive and harsh” during the race. The possible deviations from the rules of financing the electoral campaign, especially financing from abroad, will serve as ground to expel the competitor from the race. Although breeches were recorded during the former campaigns, CEC did not ask then to oust candidates from the race, because it could not prove their guiltiness. CEC is to establish a threshold of financial means to participate in the elections. Each party is to present reports on financing and expenses once in two weeks. The mandate of the present Parliament expires on March 6, 2009. In accordance with the Electoral Code, the elections are to be held at most within 3 months on the expiration. The election day is established by the Parliament at least 60 days before the elections. The mandate of the President expires on April 8. According to the legislation, the same Parliament cannot elect another President short of his resignation. Upon the expiration of the President's mandate, the interregnum is ensured by the Parliament's speaker. On September 27, the leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party (PLDM), Vlad Filat, announced the party started the electoral campaign.