Local elections took place without serious violations

Local elections in Moldova took place largely in compliance with international standards, without any significant irregularities, the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) Observation Mission, Ambassador Dieter Boden, said during a meeting with Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu. At the same time, the head of the observation mission remarked that certain violations had been committed by the representatives of political parties running for local elective offices, and pointed out the need for improving the legislation. The main conclusions on the local elections will be included in the Final Report of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission observers, which is to be presented to Moldovan authorities. Marian Lupu mentioned that the Final Report should also contain appreciations of the flagrant infringements during the local elections in Corjova village, Dubasari district, so as to call attention of the international public opinion to this situation created by the Tiraspol separatist regime. According to the speaker, the Parliament is willing to study in detail the assessments of the international observers included the Final Report of the ODHIR Mission, in order to improve the electoral legislation in the spirit of European and international democratic values. The collocutors welcomed the idea of organising several trainings with the financial support of OSCE, Council of Europe and other European organisations, for the members of the Central Election Commission, as well as for other categories of functionaries engaged in elections. These courses will contribute to improving the electoral practices. The OSCE/ODIHR delegation included 14 permanent observers from 10 countries.