The Government set up an interinstitutional working group for the proper conduct of the November 5 local elections. According to representatives of the executive, the state will harshly punish any attempt to steal votes, to influence the elections outside the country and any involvement of ill-gotten gains, IPN reports.
“In less than a month, a new election campaign starts in the Republic of Moldova at the local level. Our task, of state institutions, including the Government, is to make sure that the elections of November 5, 2023 are free and fair. Amy attempt to distort the people’s vote should be penalized, while those who plan electoral fraud should know that the state institutions will not tolerate attempts to undermine democracy and constitutional order,” the Government’s secretary general Artur Mija told a news conference.
The created working group will offer assistance to the Central Election Commission in determining the legality of election campaign funding so that any dubious donation could be identified. Any attempt to use administrative resources will be ended so as to ensure equal conditions for all election contenders.
“There were also designed intervention procedures to detect bribery, organization of electoral concerts, organized transportation to polling stations and other cases of violation of electoral norms,” stated Artur Mija.
“I call on the citizens to be attentive, to monitor things and repot to the police and district electoral bodies any potential situation of rigging, electoral bribery or voter corruption.”
In the local general elections set for November 5 this year, the Moldovan voters are to elect 898 mayors and 11,058 local councilors, 9,972 of whom will be village (commune) and town councilors, while 1,086 will be district/municipal councilors. The election campaign starts on October 6.
