Unequal conditions marred campaign for Gagauz governor – OSCE Mission to Moldova

The OSCE Mission to Moldova considers that the elections from Gagauzia were marred because the candidates did not enjoy equal campaign conditions. According to a press release of the Mission, the Ambassador Louis O’Neill, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova said that the elections for the Bashkan (Governor) of Gagauzia were held in a generally calm manner and that voting procedures improved in comparison with earlier elections. However, the head of the Mission regrets that the candidates did not enjoy equal campaign conditions. The Mission asserted that all candidates did have access to the media and were able to take part in televised debates on Teleradio Gagauzia but the value of these debates was greatly diminished, however, by the refusal of the incumbent to participate and by the low strength of the broadcasting signal during most of the pre-election period. Also, during the pre-election period, the Mission noted significant support being given to the incumbent Bashkan by regional state-funded media, representatives of local and central authorities, as well as by the ruling party. The Mission members noted a number of irregularities and shortcomings on polling day. The great number of voters introduced on supplementary lists is a reason for serious concern. Local authorities must do more to ensure that voters’ lists are accurate and complete, Ambassador O’Neil said. In the report, the OSCE Mission Head also noted serious inconsistencies, as well as contradictory and ambiguous provisions in the Gagauz Law on Bashkan Elections, which required urgent attention. “In particular, the current regulations do not provide a clear framework for the registration of candidates and do not ensure the formation of impartial election bodies,” he said, adding that these legal shortcomings and the other irregularities noted indicate that further efforts need to be taken by the authorities of Gagauzia to ensure that OSCE Commitments and other international standards are met. The OSCE Mission closely followed the electoral preparations and visited 59 polling stations out of 64 on Election Day. It also closely followed counting procedures in five locations after the polls closed. The Mission also plans to follow the run-off polls between the two strongest candidates scheduled for 17 December.