The epidemiological context had an impact on the organization of elections in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia as the elections set for May were transferred to September. Nevertheless, the authorities exemplarily managed the elections despite the new pandemic wave, Igor Boțan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, stated in a news conference at IPN.
According to Igor Boțan, in May, following the launch of the nationwide vaccination campaign in Moldova, the number of COVID-19 cases decreased. So, if the elections in Gagauzia had been held on May 16, as it was planned before the declaring of the state of emergency, the atmosphere would have been better as several tens of new cases were reported daily then. The new pandemic wave started in August and the number of new cases in September was 1,000 cases a day.
“The good intentions not to hold elections during the pandemic, during the state of emergency actually had the opposite effect,” stated Igor Boțan.
He noted that during the election campaign in Gagauzia, despite the pandemic, the candidates had meetings with the people. Immediately after the elections, the number of new cases of COVID-19 rose by 14%, as opposed to the 60% rise nationwide witnessed in the period.
“In general, we can say that the elections can be held also in times of a pandemic if the necessary measures are taken. Such measures were taken first at the presidential elections a year ago. After those elections, the rise in the number of new cases was considerable, but that situation was probably due not to elections, but rather to the general pandemic context,” said Igor Boțan.
The ADEPT director went on to add that if the authorities take into account and implement the restrictions imposed by the health authorities, the elections should not have a significant impact on the spread of the pandemic.
