The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to monitor the Presidential Elections, scheduled for 30 October 2016, in the Republic of Moldova. The Mission was launched in a news conference at IPN on October 18. The Mission’s aim is to contribute toward improved integrity and transparency of the electoral process for the President of the Republic of Moldova.
The Mission’s Deputy Head Dritan Taulla said ENEMO has a long standing experience in observing elections in countries with democracies in transition in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the present being the 23rd election observation mission organized. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations is an international network of 23 leading non-profit, non-partisan and non-governmental organizations from 18 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including three European Union countries, founded on September 29, 2001.
Head of Mission Peter Novotny said the EOM will observe, assess, report, and provide recommendations on some crucial aspects of the process, such as, conduct of election administration bodies; legal framework, with emphasis on gender equity and respect for the rights of people living with disabilities; handling of complaints and appeals by both election administration bodies and courts; as well as the overall political environment in which elections will take place.
The EOM will assess the election process in light of compliance with international standards for democratic elections, national legislative framework, and OSCE commitments. Besides direct observation and analysis of the legal framework, the observers will meet with relevant stakeholders, including election administration officials, civil society representatives, presidential candidates, political parties, officials of relevant state institutions that play a role in the electoral process, and media representatives, to receive a more comprehensive picture about the electoral process.
Peter Novotny noted the EOM is composed of a core team of six experts based in Chisinau. Additionally, ten teams of short-term observers (STOs) will be deployed in different areas of the country for Election Day to observe the opening of the polling stations, voting process, counting and tabulation of results. STOs will be deployed in teams of two observers each, following a plan prepared by the EOM. The mission will also follow the eventual runoff elections.
The findings of the observation will be announced to the public and relevant stakeholders through an interim report, to be published shortly before Election Day, a preliminary statement two days after Election Day, and the Final Report, to be published within 60 days from Election Day, or the date of eventual runoff elections.
ENEMO’s International Election Observation Mission for the Presidential Elections of 30 October 2016 in Moldova is financially supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, within the Accountability Fund Program; and the Black Sea Trust, a Project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
