One organization subscribes to Code of Conduct in elections

During two weeks after the Central Election Commission (CEC) made the appeal, only one organization signed the Code of Conduct concerning the holding and covering of the campaign for the November 28 early parliamentary elections. This is “Reteaua AICI” that includes a number of national TV channels. The appeal made on October 1 is addressed to the all the election contenders and the mass outlets. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, CEC secretary Iurie Ciocan said the electoral authority has compiled the Code at the suggestion of civil society representatives and politicians, who now avoid signing it. The Code is important first of all to the voters as the organizations that sign it will pledge to have a correct behavior in the election campaign, Iurie Ciocan stressed. Nadine Gogu, director of the Independent Journalism Center, said the media outlets are not interested in signing the Code of Conduct as there are no penalties for those who do not fulfill their obligations. She also said there are journalists who do not know about the Journalist's Deontological Code issued in 1999, not speaking about the Code proposed by the CEC. “Reteaua AICI” was founded within the Media Program in Moldova, administered by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) and funded by USAID.