“We have a special situation determined by the state policy to contain the pandemic and the proposal to reduce the working period of the electoral offices should take this policy into account. We want the state policy to protect the citizens from the danger generated by the pandemic and the voting conditions to be convergent, not divergent. A responsible approach is needed in the adoption of amendments to the electoral legislation, Igor Boțan, IPN project’s standing expert, said in a public debate titled “Amendments to the Election Code: advantages and risks to democracy”, which was staged by IPN News Agency.

Asked if Moldova will have better electoral legislation as a result of the adoption of the amendments to this legislation that are debated now on different platforms, Igor Boțan said the goal is for the proposals formulated by the mates from the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections to be examined and included in the bill to amend the electoral legislation, eventually in stages. “We are now dealing with pressing and urgent problems, while the other problems can be solved after the elections,” noted the expert.

“We had a black period in 2014-2019, when things degenerated. Currently, for the whole political class it is important to regain the image of electoral democracy at least, even if a long path is to be covered up to authentic democracy. The goal is supported by everyone and the politicians’ task is to find compromise solutions so that the elections are really free and fair, while the winner gains satisfaction from being elected in accordance with rules that are clear for everyone.”

The debate “Amendments to the Election Code: advantages and risks to democracy” was the 144th installment of the series “Developing political culture through public debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.