Minister accused of interfering in Electoral Commission’s activity

Member of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Nicolae Garbu accuses Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan of interfering in the activity of CEC. Garbu told a press conference on January 16 that Stratan submitted an interpellation to CEC during the elections of Gagauzia’s Governor by means of which he requested the central electoral body not to allow Russian observers to participate in monitoring the elections, both individual persons and human rights organisations. The interpellation of the minister, with a “confidentiality” label, was read to the members of CEC by the chairman of the Commission, Eugen Stirbu. Garbu said that, violating the legislation, Stratan “intends to take control over CEC and transform its activity into a state secret”. He says that Stratan’s order is an assault upon democracy and even state security, an absolutely inadmissible action in light of the fact that CEC is an independent body, and not a subordinated institution to the Presidency, Parliament, Government or certain political parties, even if they are government parties. “Such actions imperil the independence and transparency of CEC, the members of which to a great extent accept a situation of silent compliance”, the source says. Garbu claims that Stratan’s was put into effect, because 41 persons from different countries were accredited as observers, excepting the Russian Federation. The CEC member referred himself to the “Komsomoliskaia Pravada” newspaper which wrote that “PPCD and PCRM have obviously placed themselves closer to the centre, a fact that strangely made these parties stronger, so strong that the Communist Party can allow itself to grant the opposition the control over CEC, the Court of Accounts and the Intelligence Services”. Garbu says that by means of this newspaper, the article’s author Constantin Staras proves that the communist government continues to control the activity of CEC and regard its members as representatives of the political partnership parties, and at the other side, opposition parties’ representatives. Garbu urged the Parliamentary Committee for State Security to examine the legal character of the minister’s interpellation and interference in the activity of CEC and to publicise the results of the investigation. Also, Garbu asked the members of the Committee to properly react at such actions that “encroach upon CEC’s transparency and independence” and the media to constantly observe the activity of the electoral bodies. Nicolae Garbu stated that in case his requests will not be accepted he will leave the Central Electoral Commission.