Press release
The demographic profile of electoral corruption in the Republic of Moldova – economic vulnerability appears to be the main factor driving this phenomenon.
Women are more frequently cited in administrative violation reports and criminal cases involving passive corruption than men, a phenomenon that is likely due to greater economic vulnerability. This is the main conclusion of an analytical report prepared by the Partnership for Development Center (CPD), titled “Electoral Corruption in the Republic of Moldova: Social Profiles, Gender Disparities, and the Institutional Response”.
The analysis was conducted by CPD with support from UNDP Moldova, in partnership with UN Women Moldova, and funded by Norway, Canada, Sweden and Denmark. The report examines the sociodemographic profiles of those involved in cases of electoral corruption. The data analyzed covers the period of the 2024 presidential election and constitutional referendum.
Profile of passive electoral corruption: women, the elderly and the unemployed
A rigorous analysis of 25,882 misdemeanor reports and 77 criminal files from the period of September 2024 – August 2025 shows that the socially vulnerable segments are the most involved in acts of corruption:
- 61.9% of the targeted individuals are women. CPD estimates that a woman has a 20% higher chance of being drawn into these schemes compared to a man.
- The average age of those involved is 52.6 years, with the segment of people over 60 years old being the most affected (38.1% of cases).
- Over 85% of those sanctioned do not have an active job (57.5% unemployed and 28.3% retirees).
These data reinforce the hypothesis that economic factors – especially professional inactivity – are directly correlated with the predisposition to accepting electoral bribes, and prevention policies should explicitly target the most exposed socio-economic categories.
Since electoral corruption disproportionately affects women, people over 40, the unemployed, and retirees, public policies must directly target these groups. There is a need to continue investing in measures for economic inclusion and social protection.
This analysis was prepared as part of the project “Strengthening Democratic Resilience in Moldova”, implemented by UNDP Moldova in partnership with UN Women Moldova and funded by Norway, Canada, Sweden and Denmark.
DISCLAIMER: The authors of the press releases—not the IPN press agency—bear sole responsibility for the accuracy and substance of the content of the press release submitted for publication and/or distribution.
