The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration said that it took note of the Central Election Commission’s decision to organize 139 polling stations abroad for the July 11 snap parliamentary elections. In accordance with its duties, the Ministry will take the measures needed to ensure the constitutional right to vote in conditions of safety, by obeying the sanitary and public order rules in the countries of residence, IPN reports.
In a press release, the Ministry says the decision that was adopted in the June 5 extraordinary meeting of the CMC, concerning the establishment of 139 polling stations abroad, hadn’t been examined by it first. The initial proposal to organize 191 polling stations abroad was formulated following consultations with Moldova’s Embassies, communities of citizens outside the country and discussions with civil society. Also, the Ministry approved the CEC’s June 4 proposal to set up 162 polling stations abroad.
On the same issue, the Government said it will do its best to provide the financial resources needed for properly conducting the July 11 elections in the country and abroad. Moreover, the Government didn’t give any signal that it cannot cover the costs associated with the establishment of polling stations abroad, if their number was higher.
“We cannot understand why the CEC didn’t take into account the recommendations of our colleagues from embassies, who will have to manage the voting process, especially in the countries in which many of our compatriots were unable to exercise the constitutional right to vote in the presidential elections of 2020,” says a press release issued by the Government.
As the CEC has the power to decide independently the number of polling stations abroad, the Government encourages the Commission to review its decision of June 5, 2021, given the recommendations formulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, especially in the case of countries in which long lines were formed at polling stations and all the 5,000 ballots were used up even before the polling stations were closed.
