Vasile Tarlev, leader of the Future of Moldova Party, calls for the resignation of the members of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the recount of the votes cast in the October 20 presidential election. The politician said the election was "complicated" and was "neither free nor democratic," IPN reports.
In a press conference, Vasile Tarlev criticized the way the election was conducted. According to him, the CEC and other state bodies served the interests of the regime and favored particular candidates.
"The specially created contradictory legislation, the CEC and all the state institutions including the mass media, served the government and ensured the implementation of the scenario prepared in advance. In the created situation, we reached the conclusion and we have hundreds of proofs that the election was rigged and the electoral process was falsified, especially by the CEC and some of the institutions, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. Mayors from regions were also involved and this led to division in the state. Administrative resources have been used heavily,” stated Vasile Tarlev.
He noted that the election should have focused on essential issues, such as the sovereignty and well-being of citizens: "If we do not strengthen and develop our state, no one else will."
Also, Vasile Tarlev accused the authorities of violating the rights of citizens from the Transnistrian region and the diaspora, citing the difficulties experienced by voters. "It was a serious violation of the Constitution and legislation," he said, demanding that those responsible should be punished.
As for the runoff election, Vasile Tarlev said that his party will make its position known in the near future, but reiterated the demand regarding the resignation of the CEC and the election recount. "We are waiting for the resignation of the CEC and the recount of votes," he stated.
