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CEC member Valentin Vizant has said in an interview that the situation when not all Moldovan citizens will be able to cast their ballots because they are abroad is used by some parties to destabilise the electoral process. “Electoral contestants use the argument of voting abroad in order to sow tension and I would even say to jeopardise the electoral process… They should have been approached this issue at least a year before because legislative amendments cannot be introduced 6 months before elections. This issue always emerges during electoral campaigns.” According to Vizant, CEC has got a proposal from a group of citizens who travel to Italy for work purpose by minibus, demanding authorities to open a polling station in their minibus. “How could we legally organise something like that in legal terms, particularly given the observers on behalf of every electoral contestant and necessity to ensure the voting security?” Vizant noted that Moldovan citizens will be able to cast their ballots abroad at 33 embassies, consulates and representations, with which 28,000 Moldovan nationals are registered. According to statistics, only one third of nationals registered with representations casted their ballots at last parliamentary elections. (according to OMEGA agency)

Vladimir Turcan, chairman of the Parliamentary Legal Commission for Appointments and Immunities, has invited journalists to cover the electoral campaign this year in an interesting and miscellaneous manner, so that not to bore TV viewers who will have to make a choice. The call was released at a roundtable “Electoral Code — Legal explanations”, which discussed the necessity to organise TV shows and interactive debates: “Not all news from certain formal or informal sources are true. In order to prevent certain mistakes, journalists shall consult CEC members, study regulations of the Election Code in legal terms.” Turcan explained that one should not release electoral speculations that President Vladimir Voronin or Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii uses the service car or bodyguard service during electoral campaign because they legally hold these absolutely elementary rights. (according to INFOTAG)

President Vladimir Voronin has had an electoral meeting in the rayon of Ciadir Lunga. The chief of state called upon electors from the region to vote the PCRM, otherwise all “imbeciles” could get the rule. Voronin addressed a rhetorical question to electors: What else shall we do for you to support us? Shall one rob you in order to make you support us? Or perhaps you want to bring here Harry Potter from the Chisinau City Hall? Further, Voronin spoke about Gagauz governor: “Formuzal runs far away from me like a rabbit and says that Gagauzians will elect Tarlev. Well, support Tarlev, but do not forget that all votes for him will be waste; they will not enter the Parliament. And any votes given to others will make no sense; it will be like vodka-free beer — wasted money. Yet we will account your leadership for regional acting attempts.” (according to REGNUM agency)

The Orhei police have accused the Liberal Party (PL) of having kidnapped and ill-treated a person while the latter was showing negative attitude towards this party. According to deputy chief of Orhei police Petru Bulgac: “A person was ill-treated and another one was forced to get in a car by PL members and carried to an unknown direction.” PL rejected these accusations, describing them as “aberration”. Earlier, PL had accused the Orhei police of having organised groups of inmates and students of the Police Academy to halt meetings between PL representatives and electors. (according to UNIMEDIA)

The deputy chief of Orhei police has accused the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) at a CEC sitting of rallying minors in protests. CEC member Nicolae Garbu considers that “these accusations aim to sanction some parties and further exclude them from electoral race.” Another CEC member, Vasile Gafton, asked the police representative: “What do you want from us? We are not prosecutors! We want evidence!” The PLDM representative demanded necessary evidence. (according to UNIMEDIA)

The social-political movement of women in Moldova Demnitate will support the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) at the April 5 parliamentary elections. Ana Bologan, chairwoman of the movement’s initiative group, said that Demnitate was not yet registered with the Ministry of Justice, but it counts for more than 5,000 members. “We decided to support the PDM because this is a centre-wing party which respects democratic values, social equity, respects the rule of law, human rights. We call for the PDM because we deserve a better life. Women can contribute to refreshing the political life in Moldova for sure and we are sure that the PDM will help us… The electoral list of PDM is very good. We appreciate much Dumitru Diacov, Oleg Serebrian, Valentina Buliga, Chiril Lucinschi, who can help Moldova become a flourishing, democratic state for sure.” (according to INFOTAG)

The Government has contested in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) the ECHR decision concerning the dual citizenship (of Moldova and Romania) of the first vice-chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), Alexandru Tanase. The claimant applied to the ECHR on summer 2008 because othe law restricting holders of dual citizenship to run high-ranking offices obstructs him to become member of the Moldovan Parliament. He said that this law violates his right to be elected and the right of people to elect. The ECHR awarded victory to Tanase. The Ministry of Justice applied to the ECHR Grand Chamber because the ECHR decided that those interdictions were just a draft at that moment, not a law. As well, the Government claims that the ECHR exceeded its competences in this case because it has studied it in the light of the European Convention on Citizenship, while it is in charge with considering cases in the light of the European Convention on Human Rights only. (according to INFOTAG)