Members of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Moldova (CEC), policy and law makers, representatives of the courts, political parties, international community, media and civil society, local and international observation missions gathered to analyse and discuss the institutional, legal and gender perspectives of improvements following the November 2020 Presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova. The conference was organised by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the CEC on 18-19 February 2021 in online format due to the COVID-19 related sanitary measures.
The aim of the conference was to analyse the context in which these elections were held, institutional, legal and gender perspectives, as well as to hear from international and national election observation missions’ their assessment and recommendations and generate needed solutions to the future improvements of the electoral process in the Republic of Moldova, especially taking into consideration public statements made by Moldovan politicians about need of the snap parliamentary elections this year.
Conference covered mainly the following topics: participation in elections of special categories of voters, specificity of voting arrangements outside the country, alternative voting methods, electoral disputes, initiative groups and electoral campaigns financing, lower electoral management bodies activity and media coverage and monitoring of the electoral campaign.
A special emphasis was put on recommendations on amending the electoral legal framework of the Republic of Moldova in line with the European election standards, and recommendations made the Venice Commission and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) electoral observation missions and local observers.
In his opening speech Dr. Cimil, chairman of the CEC stated: “The crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic has changed standard perceptions of conducting elections and has led to the impossibility of organising electoral processes under the same conditions as it was until 2020. At the same time, the recent Presidential elections have been a challenge for all of us, a test that I personally appreciate having passed successfully, the voting process was conducted without major incidents, in legality and transparency”.
In his turn Mr. Massolin, Head of the Council of Europe office in Chisinau, mentioned: “This conference is an opportunity to look more deeply on all the dimensions and additional set of recommendations. It is important to take some time to reflect on some of the lessons and shortcomings that happened until now in the context of these elections, as to ensure that all bodies in charge will take actions on these recommendations and make sure that next elections in the Republic of Moldova will be strengthen in the future and will be in line with Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR standards”.
According to the Constitution and the Electoral Code, the Constitutional Court examines the observance of the procedures for organizing and conducting presidential elections, confirms or denies their results, as well as validates the mandate of the President of the Republic of Moldova.
Mrs. Manole, chairwoman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova, pointed out that fundamental rights and freedoms are better protected in an effective political democracy. “The citizens elect their President represents the state and is the guarantor of the sovereignty, independence, unity and integrity of the country”.
In his closing remarks Dr. Cimil, chairman of the CEC summed up the most important conclusions and promised that the CEC would sum up all findings and recommendations, including as to amend legislation, made during 2-day online event, and submit them to all interested stakeholder, including Moldovan law makers soon.
The post-election review conference was jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the CEC within the Council or Europe project “Improving Electoral Practices in the Republic of Moldova”.
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