OSCE PA Vice-president urges Moldovan authorities to avoid abuse of administrative resources

The OSCE Special-Coordinator for the 29 July parliamentary elections in Moldova, Petros Efthymiou is highlighting that the Moldovan authorities still need to make serious efforts to ensure that the voter’s lists are accurate and are displayed for public verification on time, and to ensure there is no abuse of administrative resources in the electoral process. After a three-day visit to Moldova last week, in preparation for the international electoral observation mission, Petros Efthymiou found that several issues highlighted after the April 5 election remained relevant to the upcoming elections elections as well. In particular, Petros Efthymiou noted allegations of intimidation by police. At the same time, he remarked that “despite some changes in the media coverage of the campaign, there is still space for the media environment to achieve greater pluralism and ensure equal access for all political forces in Moldova”. While remarking changes to legislation that partly address OSCE recommendations on elections, he added that “important challenges remain.” Petros Efthymiou, a Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, also served as the OSCE Special Coordinator for the 5 April elections. He delivered the international election observation mission’s statement concluding that the elections met many international standards and commitments but that further improvements were required to ensure an electoral process free from undue administrative interference and to increase public confidence. “If the lack of trust and confidence evident among the political forces and public in Moldova is to be overcome, continued improvements of the electoral process are absolutely vital,” Mr. Efthymiou stated. The International Election Observation Mission for the 29 July elections will consist of the long-term observers from OSCE ODIHR plus parliamentarians from the OSCE, Council of Europe and the European Parliament and several hundred short-term observers. The mission’s post-election statement will be issued at a press conference in Chisinau on 30 July.