The new parliamentary elections are not very attractive to the citizens because this is a new electoral exercise. In single-member constituency No. 38 Hâncești, the last local elections and the parliamentary elections of 2019 revealed a negative voter turnout tendency there. Therefore, motivational factors should exist for the citizens so that they want to go to the polls, ascertained the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT in concert with the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.
In a news conference at IPN, Polina Panainte, secretary of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, said the inhabitants of 25 localities of Hâncești district are expected to cast their ballots on March 15 to choose an MP for filling the available seat. At the last local elections and at the parliamentary elections of 2019, the voter turnout was 37% and, respectively, 40%. The figures are lower than the national average.
ADEPT executive director Igor Boțan said the low voter turnout in this constituency is worrisome as Hâncești district is one of the largest in Moldova, is located in the central economic zone of the country and is somehow representative for central Moldova.
According to him, in the new parliamentary elections in four single-member constituencies last year, a factor that made the people to vote in two constituencies, No. 17 and No. 33, was the simultaneous holding of local general elections there. In the other two constituencies established outside the country, the number of voters decreased significantly, both in Europe and in Transnistria.
“If there is no attractive point as in constituencies No. 17 and No. 33, where the new parliamentary elections coincided with the local general elections, there is a risk that the voter turnout will be very low in constituency No. 38 as well,” stated Igor Boțan.
He noted the fact that there is no minimum threshold for validating the elections and that there are parties with impressive organizational and administrative potential can mark these elections as the large parties with potential can calmly work with the voters in the localities where they are represented.
According to Igor Boțan, there are reasons for the political parties to ponder over the organizational potential of parties expressed in figures and on the administrative potential so as to lay the basis of the action plans for 2020.
The Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections encourages the citizens to follow the electoral competition so as to take part in elections and to volte consciously and in an informed way.
