The presidential runoff in Moldova on November 13 was generally well organized and conducted in an orderly manner, following the main procedures. However, in some polling stations, the precinct electoral bureaus ran out of ballot papers since the voters’ participation exceeded the maximum number of ballots available. Due to this there were a number of voters that could not exercise their voting right, the Election Observation Mission of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) says in its Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions.
In a news conference at IPN, the Mission’s Deputy Head Dritan Taulla said four teams of short-term observers were deployed and observed the opening, voting, closing, counting and tabulation of results in 56 present electoral bureaus, as well as activity of three district electoral councils. Moreover, five observers monitored Election Day in seven polling stations established to enable the voting of Moldovan citizens residing abroad. ENEMO observers have also monitored the activity of the Central Election Commission throughout Election Day.
According to the Mission’s Head Peter Novotny, cases of serious violations of fundamental rights – breach of secrecy to vote, intimidation, violation of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person that hindered full and effective exercise of their right to vote - were observed in the polling stations in psychiatric hospitals and prisons.
ENEMO said strong media partisanship and biased coverage of the electoral campaign continued between the two rounds of elections. Failure to impose efficient and appropriate sanctions for violations by the media remains of concern, and it can be said to have limited the possibility of the public to receive impartial information, as well as equity of conditions for the candidates.
Shortcomings were noted in the election dispute resolution process both in the CEC, which postponed adjudication of the complaints after the 2nd round in contradiction to the Electoral Code, and the law enforcement bodies to identify, investigate and prosecute the instances of election related violations and crimes.
The Mission’s conclusions will be incorporated in a final report that will be published within 60 days from Election Day.
ENEMO’s International Election Observation Mission for the Presidential Elections of 30 October 2016 in Moldova is financially supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, within the Accountability Fund Program; and the Black Sea Trust, a Project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
