The 14 June local elections in Moldova were efficiently administered and offered the electorate a diverse choice. They were held in a context of political turmoil due to a massive financial scandal and the resignation of the Prime Minister two days before the vote, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities concluded in a statement issued today, IPN reports.
“The campaign was lively and generally free, though reflected through politically influenced media. It was strongly impacted by the division of political forces and society over the country’s future orientation,” said Kimmo Kiljunen, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission. “The elections were well administered despite the fact that the law was changed after the elections were announced.”
The new legal amendments, mainly related to campaigning and campaign finance, addressed a number of past recommendations by ODIHR and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. Making the changes so close to the elections, however, was not in line with international good practice and led to confusion and concerns about their implementation, the statement said.
Fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly were respected throughout the campaign in which the main topics included corruption, the economy, and local governance and decentralization. At the same time, the campaign focused on personalities rather than on political platforms, the observers said.
The media offered extensive coverage of candidates, providing them with the opportunity to address voters. The news coverage of the campaign by the public broadcaster was equitable, but favored the ruling parties somewhat. Most private television stations monitored failed to comply with the legal obligation to provide impartial coverage. Political influence and a concentration of media ownership hampered unbiased news reporting.
The observers said all the complaints were examined in a transparent way. They noted that the territorial-administrative reform is extremely necessary and suggested looking for a maximally efficient model for the country and implementing it after consulting civil society.
The final report on the local elections of the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission will be made public in two months.
