A new iteration of the Electoral Code was approved in Parliament in the first reading. The draft was endorsed by 54 votes of the parliamentary majority, while the Bloc of Communists and Socialists criticized it and voted against. The Shor group did not vote.

Presenting some of the Code’s novelties, Olesea Stamate (PAS), chair of the Legal Commission, highlighted the possibility of holding the voting over two days, on Saturday and Sunday, in exceptional situations, such as a pandemic or a state of emergency, in some constituencies.

On campaign financing, the new Code limits individual contributions to a percentage of the donor’s annual income.

For legislative elections, the proposal is to extend the party ticket to a maximum of 111 candidates. Changes to the list could be made 10 days before election day the latest.

Criticizing the proposed Code, Alexandr Suhodolski (BCS) claimed that it marginalized the opposition in the process of appointing members on the Central Electoral Commission.

Elaborating on the subject, Vlad Batrîncea (BCS) said it’s not clear why the Cabinet and the judiciary will get to delegate members on the CEC, claiming that this will create conflicts of interest.

Fiodor Gagauz (BCS) claimed that the proposed Code failed to properly address electoral matters in his native Gagauz autonomy.

The draft Electoral Code will further undergo public consultations before being put up to a final vote.