Gagauz elections – most correct for 20 years: monitor

The electoral race in the Administrative–Territorial Unit of Gagauzia can serve as a model for holding free and fair elections in the rest of Moldova, the president of the League for the Defense of Human Rights from Moldova (LADOM), Paul Strutzescu, told a news conference on Monday, May 31, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to him, analyzing preliminary data collected by LADOM’s volunteers shows the voting took place in agreement with the provisions of the Moldovan Electoral Law, of the Law on the Gagauz People’s Assembly, as well as in conformity of the OSCE’s principles for free and fair elections. At the same time, the LADOM observers noticed negative, if traditional facets in Moldova, which, in Strutzescu’s opinion, did not influence the integrity of the electoral process. According to the LADOM president they are: opening polling stations later, two or more people entering one booth at the same time and “organized” campaigns to vote at home. Updating the voters’ lists and unauthorized persons loitering in polling stations remain one of the most serious issues, in Strutzescu’s opinion, to organize a fair vote-day. Despite all those, the LADOM experts opine the small shortcomings having occurred during those two rounds had the least number of drawbacks for the last 20 years. According to the results presented by LADOM, circa 58.58% of the recorded voters participated in the poll of 30 March within the elections for the local parliament, of which 3.4% were recorded on additional lists, and 2 per cent of the ballots were declared invalid. According to preliminary results, 7 parliamentarians allegedly supported by the Communist Party were elected in the last round on Sunday, 1 MP representing the “Ravnopravie” social-political movement and 9 independent candidates. Thus, the configuration of the Gagauz People’s Assembly is as follows: 21 independent MPs, 10 Communists, by 2 MPs from Ravnopravie and the Democratic Party.