More than 24,000 women were registered as contenders for the posts of mayor and local councilor in the local elections of last autumn. This is 44% of the registered electoral competitors. After the first round of voting and the runoffs, 196 women became mayors. This is 22% of the total number of elected mayors. As many as 300 women were elected councilors of the second level (27%) and 3,823 were appointed local councilors of the first level (36% of all the councilors of the first level). The data were presented in an event staged by the Central Election Commission with support from UNDP Moldova, IPN reports.

CEC president Dorin Cimil said that compared with the local elections of 2015, the number of women elected mayor was by 1% higher than in 2019. Compared with the elections of 2011 and 2007, the rise was of almost 4%. “There were registered good results and we see that participation and involvement increase. But society should realize that not only the gender factor counts. The people should understand that regardless of ethnicity, the physical condition, age and other features, everyone has the right to be elected and to represent their community,” stated the official.

Also, the number of women elected councilors of the first level in 2019 was by 6.5% than in 2015. A higher percentage was also registered as regards the councilors of the second level, the difference between 2019 and 2015 being of 8.5%.

In the last local general elections held in Moldova, there were implemented the changes made to the Election Code in the summer of 2019. These refer to the observance of the minimum representation quota of 40% for both of the sexes in the lists of candidates of parties and the placing of candidates on lists according to the formula: minimum three candidates per each ten places.

Gender-Centru head Valentina Bodrug-Lungu said it was established that the presence of women and men in debates prior to the local general elections of 2019 was very inequitable. The women continue to be designated by parties for less eligible places. Violence continues to be uses in campaigning. “There was a very sad situation when the women were very, very harshly blamed,” she stated.