The ensuring of transparency and integrity in the local elections should be a common effort of society and the authorities responsible for the organization and monitoring of the election process, said experts invited to IPN’s public debate “Transparency and integrity in local elections”.

Mariana Novac, program coordinator at Promo-LEX Association, reminded that the general local elections of November 5 will be held in accordance with new rules – the new Electoral Code and particular regulations agreed by the Central Election Commission. Nevertheless, the elections are not one point on an axis. “This process is continuous and includes pre-election, election and post-election periods. This way, transparency or the principle of transparency should be applied at any stage of this cycle. The principle of transparency in fact tells us, as voters and citizens, that the authorities involved in this process must be more open and provide all the necessary information about the conduct of elections, the electoral competition and all the engaged players,” stated Mariana Novac.

Viorel Rusu, legal expert of the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova, said transparency in an electoral process is important, but the ensuring of this transparency is a responsibility borne not only by election contenders, but also by all the authorities involved in this process. “Those who organize the elections and those who offer the support needed in the organization of elections should also ensure the given transparency. The mass media should ensure transparency and should be unbiased in the given process. So, all the players should show good intent and ensure a healthy competition that is very important namely for having worthy candidates who deserve and who win the electoral competition honestly, without using hidden or illegal methods,” stated Viorel Rusu.

Editorialist Nicolae Negru noted that when integrity is discussed, the subject of financing of election campaigns should also be raised as namely the money often help a candidate or another to win the election. All the aspects are important and clarity should be ensured as to the origin of the funds intended for election campaigns and how this money is spent.

“Until recently, they didn’t really make a difference or didn’t inquire where this money comes from. How can it be so that someone spends, for example, 3 million, while someone else spends 100,000? These things ultimately matter. In general, surely someone can spend a lot of money but does not win the election. But I don’t know cases when someone doesn’t spend money or spends a little money, but wins the election. So, the money is a very important factor and I think that when speaking about transparency, about integrity, we should also see where the money comes from and how it is spent, if it doesn’t go to voters. This is the knot we should cut to solve the problem,” said Nicolae Negru.

The public debate entitled “Transparency and integrity in local elections” was staged by IPN News Agency in the framework of the project “Stimulation of discussion in the mass media about traditional particularities of local elections and the need for Europeanization” which is supported by Soros Foundation Moldova.