On 2 July 2018, Secretary General Jagland met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Mr Pavel Filip on the government’s request. He also held a meeting on 3 July 2018 with opposition leaders Ms Maia Sandu and Mr Andrei Nastase on their request.

The Secretary General was informed about the recent electoral developments in the country. In this respect, the decision to invalidate the results of mayoral elections in Chisinau, which were also acknowledged by international observers, raises high concerns, in particular with respect to the proportionality of the decision.

The Secretary General urged his interlocutors to work on a legal solution to ensure that the electoral rights are fully implemented. The voters’ trust in the electoral system is fundamental and must not be undermined. In a democracy, the choice of the electorate must be fully respected.