The greatest threat to electoral integrity is foreign malign influence from Russia, including foreign information manipulation and interference, which predominantly involves propagating false information on social media platforms, as well as related illicit financing. This is one of the findings of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which concluded its Pre-Election Assessment Mission conducted in advance of the presidential election and a constitutional referendum on European integration to be held on October 20, 2024. At the same time, the NDI delegation cautioned that efforts to combat foreign malign influences from Russia must not undermine the principles of credible elections, including a free and open exchange of ideas.
“The greatest threat to electoral integrity is foreign malign influence from Russia, including information manipulation and interference, which predominantly involves propagating false information on social media platforms, as well as related illicit financing. These efforts are intended, first and foremost, to illegally influence the outcome of the constitutional referendum as well as the presidential election. Government agencies and the CEC have a responsibility to protect the information environment from malign influences and combat illegal foreign funding so that Moldovans are free to decide for themselves the outcomes of their elections,” NDI delegation leader Pekka Haavisto, Member of the Finnish Parliament and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, stated in a news conference hosted by IPN.
According to him, while not fundamentally undermining the credibility of the presidential election or constitutional referendum, various stakeholders raised legitimate issues about specific electoral processes. “Parties and individuals from across the political spectrum must be free to contest the presidential election and to advocate for or against the constitutional referendum. Voters must be able to freely receive information from all perspectives about presidential candidates and referendum options,” noted the NDI delegation leader.
According to Richard Klein, NDI Global Director for Elections, the Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova has clear provisions that prohibit the use of administrative resources and also the corruption of voters. The NDI delegation calls on all election participants to respect the Electoral Code and not to engage in electoral corruption or other illegalities.
The Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Moldova was conducted from September 2 to 6, 2024. The delegation was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all. NDI envisions a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all. NDI has observed approximately 200 elections in every region in the world, including Moldova’s 2019 parliamentary elections and 2020 presidential election. The Institute has carried out programs in Moldova since 2003.
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