OSCE to assess Moldova’s electoral legislation amendments

A mission of observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR/OSCE) will assess the amendments to the Electoral Code, which were introduced recently by the Moldovan Parliament, and their practical application.

Mission leader Peter Eicher told a news conference  today that a special attention will be paid to the new procedure of distributing the ballots – and therefore parliamentary mandates – won by political parties and independent candidates, who fail to clear the electoral barrier.

Peter Eicher said that the mission’s presence in Chisinau is reflecting the international community’s higher interest to Moldova, and that the ODIHR experts are keen to follow the electoral process, not the election outcome, which is up to voters to shape. Namely, the experts will follow to which extent voters and contesters can have a free and peaceful campaign, instances of using administrative resources, and will assess the quality of voter registers.

The ODIHR/OSCE will analyze the correspondence of the electoral process to international standards and national legislation; the work of electoral organs and the authorities during a period ending on December 8; and situation in the Moldovan mass media.

In his words, the ODIHR/OSCE consists of 35 international experts, who have come here for a longer work period, and there will be yet 2 hundred experts to arrive here only shortly before November 28. Mr. Eicher said the Mission has no financial means to delegate its experts to the 75 polling stations, which Moldova is going to open in foreign countries.