The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an observation mission for the 5 November local elections in Moldova, following an invitation from the national authorities. Observers will closely monitor the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, campaign activities, including in the media and social networks, and the resolution of election-related disputes, the OSCE said in a press release.
The mission consists of a core team of 11 experts based in Chişinău. ODIHR has requested 28 long-term observers from OSCE participating States, who will be deployed throughout the country from 6 October. ODIHR also plans to request 200 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day.
To assess pre-election activities in the country, the mission will hold meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties and candidates, civil society, the media and the international community.
On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with delegations from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of votes and the tabulation of results.
An interim report will be published some two weeks before the elections to update the public and media during the course of the observation. The day after the elections, the mission’s preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report assessing the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the end of the election process.
