Moldovan and foreign NGOs discuss possibility of creating network of voter education experts

Moldova’s Election Code needs serious amendments, especially as regards the financial transparency of political parties, national and foreign experts said in a roundtable meeting centering on the exchange of international experience in voter education and election monitoring. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Daniela Terzi-Barbarosie, executive director of the Partnership for Development Center that organized the event, said the dialogue with foreign experts is very important because everyone’s experience is useful when you aim to improve the methodology of educating the voters and monitoring the elections. “Each country and each NGO attending the roundtable meeting presented methods that are not used in our country or just started to be implemented. The experience exchange is valuable in this respect,” she said. As to the financing of political parties, Daniela Terzi-Barbarosie said this subject is sensitive as the parties in Moldova report doubtful figures both for revenues and expenditure. She considers that this issue should be addressed thoroughly. Civil society can propose amendments to a number of articles or provisions concerning this subject of the Election Code and related regulations. The experts also discussed the possibility of creating a network involving NGOs from different countries and representatives of public authorities responsible for elections so as to see what reforms can be implemented to improve the electoral system. Another important subjects discussed was the establishment of relations between NGOs from different countries working in the same area. These relations will enable to exchange experience in voter education and election monitoring. “I think this event laid the basis for future activities. We considered the specific features so as to later set up an international network of NGOs and experts dealing with election monitoring and voter education,” said Daniela Terzi-Barbarosie. She also said that the foreign experts can learn from Moldova’s experience in employing voting methods for persons with visual impairments and in gender monitoring. “They liked the idea of organizing debates in communities. I think we all learned something new,” said Daniela Terzi-Barbarosie. 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).