The Moldovans living abroad can donate money in support of initiative groups for collecting signatures in favor of a candidate for an elective post or for initiating a referendum. Private individuals can donate up to six average official monthly salaries for a given year, while legal entities – up to 12 average monthly salaries. In the case of citizens with incomes earned outside the country, the ceiling of donations cannot exceed three average official monthly salaries for a given year. These are the main provisions of the regulations concerning the financing of initiative groups that were approved by the Central Election Commission on September 3, IPN reports.
Under the regulations, within three banking days of the registration day, the initiative group opens a bank account with the mention “Intended for the initiative group” for financing its activity. The general ceiling of the funds that can be transferred to the given account is set by the CEC. Only money earned as salaries, from entrepreneurial, scientific or creation activities performed by Moldovan citizen inside and outside the country can be used for financing the activity of initiative groups.
The initiative group is obliged to present reports on their revenues and costs. In the presidential elections, the reports are presented to the CEC within three days of the opening of the account and then weekly and also not later than three days of the presentation of the support signature lists to the CEC, for the whole period of activity of the group.
The old regulations on the financing of initiative groups that were approved in 2016 will continue to be used only for the new parliamentary elections, until the mandate of the Parliament of the tenth legislature expires, given the used mixed electoral system.
