UCM suggests harsher sanctions for violations committed in elections

The Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM) suggests harsher sanctions for the violations by the electoral candidates or their representatives. The initiative was presented on November 28 by the leaders of UCM at a press conference. The authors propose to augment the Electoral Code with several provisions which would establish liability of candidates for electoral frauds by canceling their votes, excluding from elections and prohibiting further participation for a 5 year period. In case an electoral fraud contributes to winning parliamentary elections, fact which equals to usurpation of power, it is suggested that the answerable party is dissolved. UCM also proposes to amend the Penal Code by introducing punishments for electoral frauds, such as fines of 150-200 conventional units for individual persons and 500-1000 conventional units for legal persons, as well as imprisonment from 5 to 25 years. Also, the draft provides for the reasons a party could be disbanded, including electoral frauds, prohibited financial sources, promotion of the ideology and policy which is not complying with the legal framework and democratic principles. The chairman of UCM, Mihai Petrache stated that he will submit the draft to all parliamentary factions, as well as to the faction headed by Dumitru Braghis.