Local know-how: Electoral debates in homes of culture

The experience of the Contact Center in organizing electoral debates in villages proved efficient, the NGO’s head Sergiu Neikovchen said in a roundtable meeting that focused on voter education and election monitoring. He stated that before the June 5 local elections, debates had been organized in 25 settlements, Info-Prim Neo reports. The debates in villages involved mainly candidates for mayor. In towns, emphasis was laid on the district and town councils. The discussions took place in the homes of culture and were attended by locals as well. At the first stage, the candidates answered the questions put by the organizers, while at the second stage the competitors answered the questioned posed by villagers. A number of candidates turned down the invitation. “At each debate, there were over 200 people attending. The locals welcomed the idea, while the competitors from the neighboring villages asked holding debates in their settlements too,” Sergiu Neikovchen said. He also said that informative program. After the local elections, debates in villages will be held once in six or 12 months. They will involve elected councilors. The people will be able to put them questions. The roundtable meeting “Voter education and monitoring methodologies: international exchange of good practices and opportunities in EU and EaP countries” within the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections in partnership with the European Exchange Association (Germany). Activities within the Coalition enjoy financial support from the East Europe Foundation from resources provided by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DANIDA).