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PCRM has contested the electoral symbol of the Liberal Party (PL) to CEC, saying that it reproduces elements of the European Union’s symbol (the cycle of gold stars). CEC turned down the accusation as “groundless and late” that means it was brought after the three-day deadline since the CEC approved the symbol.

PCRM has contested the electoral symbol of the Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM) to CEC because it contains the name of leader “TARLEV”. PCRM considers that Tarlev’s name was widely mediated in seven years of office of prime minister and thus other electoral contestants find themselves in unfair conditions. UCM representative Mihai Petrache persuaded the CEC that the PCRM’s claims are “ridiculous and absurd” since they mean that former premier Tarlev cannot use his name, and this is an unprecedented action in the world. In its turn, CEC turned down the PCRM’s claims as “groundless and late”.

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has studied a contestation by PDM concerning the pro-communist electoral propaganda made during the Saint Valentine’s Day concert on February 14, and established that the concert was organised in fact by the Communist Youth Union of Moldova (UTCM), which is a nongovernmental organisation and does not hold the right to support political parties in electoral campaigns, not by the Public Institution Teleradio-Moldova. Given the failure of a PCRM representative to CEC to explain the relation between UTCM and PCRM, in what quality President Voronin was present on the scene flanked by billboards representing the PCRM, funding to the concert, etc. the CEC decided to postpone the final examination of the PDM’s contestation until the PCRM will provide documents explaining its relations with UTCM and the Ministry of Justice will decide on the conduct of UTCM.

AMN has accused President Voronin of using the office of chief of state to make propaganda for his party PCRM. “Being afraid to fail the elections, the communists have convoked all doctors from rayons at the Government headquarters in order to instruct them in favour of communists and to impose them to make pro-PCRM propaganda at their workplaces.” AMN asked the public opinion, the media and observers of the electoral campaign to monitor the event, stressing that it will protest against “this way used by communists to impose doctors to listen to their electoral messages in conditions which run counter the electoral legislation… We will try to tell doctors that communist bogies do not deserve attention and hope a nice future.”

The Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) has picketed offices of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and Traffic Police Directorate of the Interior Ministry, after traffic police officers did not accept an electoral poster on a mobile (motor) carriage. According to protestors, police officers said that the contents of the poster contravene to the electoral legislation. Legislator Leonid Bujor, candidate on AMN lists, said that the traffic police officers exceeded their competences, as they should coordinate just the shape of the panel, not the contents. Perhaps they did not like the red colour and the message of the poster, which reads: “8 years of governing — poverty, robbery, lie.” AMN submitted an appeal to CEC, demanding the commission to examine it urgently and to annul the decision by the traffic police. (according to Info-Prim Neo)

Responding to an appeal by AMN, CEC has modified Article 11 of the regulation concerning the displaying of electoral advertising panels. The modification says that “the electoral contestant is responsible for the contests of electoral materials and traffic police bodies will not demand notices by other institutions but those indicated by the Regulation.”

Young groups are destroying billboards of electoral contestants, splashing plastic painting bags on them. According to the CEC regulation and experience of the 2007 electoral campaign, approximately 20–30 percent of billboards will be used for electoral advertising. Reciprocal “bombings” of billboards are expected to be a special dimension of the electoral race.

A group of young electoral candidates of the European Action Movement (MAE) has raised concern “with attitude of some pretended analysts who claim that they want to grow young the political class but actually use the topic «Youths on lists of parties and in politics» as a means of political battle, proving clearly that they are serving those who get a move on to buy newspapers against political opponents.” Many party leaders have claimed in all these years to be ready to support youths, but they did not respect their right to elect and to be elected. MAE has done it. Thus, 27 or one third out of 103 candidates on the MAE list are under 28 years old, and another 31 are aged between 28 and 50. Overall, 59 persons or 2/3 are below 50 years old. The list is a proof that candidates are not discriminated by gender — 73 men and 30 women.

The Electronic Press Association (APEL) has released a report on monitoring of a number of broadcasting institutions. The APEL monitoring covers the pre-electoral period January 1 — February 3 and programmes with political actors aired by 9 Chisinau-based televisions. The report reveals that the public television “Moldova 1” makes partisanship in favour of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova. The private TV channels NIT and N4 also make pro-PCRM partisanship. According to the report findings, EU TV airs lots of positive programmes about the Christian Democratic People’s Party (PPCD), and all four TV stations mentioned above broadcast programmes against political opponents of PCRM and PPCD. “A number of channels (M1, NIT, N4) proved to be guided by political interests of PCRM, while EU TV awarded priority to PPCD,” reads a communication disseminated at the conference. “As well, it is worth to note that other channels (PRO TV, TV 7 and TVC 21) have proved their attachment to values of political pluralism and unbiased approach of developments in society.” The 36-page report assesses that M1 has aired 161 news praising President Vladimir Voronin, followed by first Deputy Premier Igor Dodon (25 news) and Premier Zinaida Greceanii, who was present in 20 news. PCRM was presented in a positive context by the public television in 193 news, followed by the Social-Democratic Party (6) and Moldova Noastra Alliance (3). AMN leader Serafim Urecheanu is the politician whom M1 likes the least. He was presented in a negative context in 24 news, followed by Centrist Union leader Vasile Tarlev (16). EU TV , PRO TV and TV 7 presented Urecheanu and his party in a negative light the most. Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca is presented in a negative light, in particular, on NIT and N4. The report will be sent above all to the electronic media watchdog CCA, which is in charge with supervising the implementation of the Broadcasting Code. As well, the report will be delivered to the monitored televisions and observers of the electoral campaign. The dean of the Journalism Faculty of the Moldova State University, Constantin Marin, stressed that “Article 7 of the Broadcasting Code explains very clearly the conduct of televisions when they refer to a party, a party opinion. If you compare these regulations and statistics, you will see that many televisions do not respect these provisions.” The APEL project is funded by the European Commission Delegation to Moldova and is being implemented within the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections — Coalition 2009. It aims to contribute to a fair, transparent and democratic electoral process, build professional skills on television, so that to present politicians in an unbiased and balanced manner. (according to Info-Prim Neo)

While meeting students and professors from the Free International University of Moldova (ULIM), the U.S. ambassador in Chisinau, Asif Chaudhry, was satisfied with the way the electoral campaign in Moldova has started. He recommended a solution to the voting by Moldovan nationals abroad — remote voting, via post. The U.S. diplomat noted that he did not observe grave breaches in the electoral campaign for the time being, but stressed that some time is left till elections and nobody is sure that everything will be well. (according to Jurnal de Chisinau)