Around 72% of monitored media products regarding the sexist discourse and behaviour of the electoral stakeholders in electoral campaign for 2025 Parliamentary election contained at least one form of sexism. More severe forms of sexism such as paternalistic jokes or ridicule of female politicians were reported in 9% of the cases.

Results were concluded during the monitoring of the sexist discourse and behaviour of the electoral stakeholders carried out within the framework of the Council of Europe Project ”Improving electoral practice in the Republic of Moldova (IEPRM) 2025-2028”.

Eight online media outlets were monitored - three national (Agora, Unimedia, and Tribuna) and five regionals (Nord News, TVNord, Studio L, Ziuadeazi, and TUK), between 28 August and 1 October 2025, aiming to identify and analyse instances of sexist speech and behaviour using quantitative and content-based methods.

A total of 192 election-related products were reviewed, 58% of which were moderated or produced by men, and 42% by women. Approximately 250 protagonists were identified, including electoral candidates, party leaders, experts and representatives of public authorities with 22-25% representing women and 75-78% - men.

Findings revealed that 138 media products (around 72%) contained at least one form of sexism -verbal, attitudinal, or symbolic. The most frequent manifestations of sexism (70%) were of low severity and involved the use of inclusive masculine plural and masculine-only job titles.

Sexist speech and behaviour were most prevalent in the national media outlets, where the lack of moderators’ intervention amplified the problem.

The monitoring results were presented at a press conference jointly organised by the Council of Europe and UN Women on 24 October 2025.

The monitoring was carried out within the framework of the Project ”Improving electoral practice in the Republic of Moldova (IEPRM) 2025-2028”, implemented as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028.