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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Valeriu Ostalep met the head of the OSCE Election Observation Mission, Nikolai Vulchanov, on February 25, 2009. Valeriu Ostalep assured the OSCE team of the assistance needed for the good functioning of the Election Observation Mission. The sides agreed to maintain a permanent contact between the OSCE Election Observation Mission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. OSCE will deploy 20 long-term and 200 short-term observers to Moldova. (according to MOLDPRES news)

The Independent Journalism Centre (CIJ) released on Wednesday the findings of the media monitoring in the electoral campaign for parliamentary elections in Moldova. The monitoring (during February 5–18) covered 24 media outlets which aired or published 3,537 relevant articles on elections. According to monitoring findings, the public stations Moldova 1, Radio Moldova, and the private stations NIT and Antena C advantage the Party of Communists directly and indirectly and disadvantage opposition parties. On the other hand, PRO TV Chisinau, EU TV, TV 7 and the radio station Vocea Basarabiei are trying to keep airing unbiased but nuanced events and not to omit opposition parties. Vocea Basarabiei has a stronger critical message concerning PCRM, but it does not ignore events which objectively advantage this political party, while EU TV airs more positive than negative news about the ruling party. The state-run news agency Moldpres presents the PCRM in a positive context only and neglects or disfavours opposition parties indirectly. (Source: Deca-Press)

Two people were assaulted on Wednesday morning while they were posting electoral advertising of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) on an authorised panel in the district of Botanica. They were beaten by foot in front of a police patrol and the latter did not get involved. According to PLDM deputy chairman Alexandru Tanase, the two young men were taken to the Botanica police station and were told to put down an explanation and were not allowed to raise a complaint against assaulters. Tanase claims that one of assaulters was among policemen and coordinated their actions at the police station inclusively. PLDM affirms that it faced incidents with policemen in several localities where it was prohibited to disseminate electoral leaflets. (Source: Deca-Press)

The League for the Protection of Human Rights in Moldova (LADOM) recommends Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii and Speaker Marian Lupu to reimburse to the state budget from the electoral fund of the Party of Communists (PCRM) the amounts spent for electoral trips. The three officials are candidates to the Parliament on behalf of the PCRM. LADOM chairman Paul Strutzescu told a press conference on Wednesday, February 25, at which the third election monitoring report worked out within the Coalition 2009 Project was released, that officials use administrative resources but they must pay them, as they spend public funds. As well, LADOM recommends parliamentarians “to refrain from using administrative resources during the campaign.” A number of breaches of legislation, police abuses or incommodities relating to imperfect electoral legislation were observed since the beginning of the electoral campaign. In the monitored period (from January 28 to February 24) many meetings between electoral contestants and voters were impeded. At the same time, during meetings organised by highest-ranking officials, electors are intimidated by being imposed to sign a registration list or forced to take part in meetings. These attempts compromise a competitive campaign and leaves room for abuses and massive use of administrative resources. (Source: Info-prim)

A police group stormed the Nisporeni-based TV station Albasat TV on February 25 morning, insisting to execute a control but refusing to present a searching or control mandate to station director Efim Bardan. Three policemen stormed the studio and introduced themselves as employees of the special mission directorate of the Interior Ministry. Policemen did not want to explain the reason of the control and demanded all documentation of the TV station. Further, TV moderator Tatiana Pantelei together with his husband Mihai, accountant of the studio, was taken to the Nisporeni police station and the man was held there one hour. The Interior Ministry did not comment these actions so far. Reacting to these actions, the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova released a communication and described them as an intimidation against the free media and an attempt to falsify the electoral process, by limiting the freedom of expression. The party “condemns abuses by acting regime aimed to strain the social-political situation in the Republic of Moldova and makes common cause with the staff of the Nisporeni-based TV station Albasat TV.” (Sources: Info-Prim; press release by PLDM)

The Christian Democratic People’s Party (PPCD) uses its legislative accomplishments in the electoral campaign. In particular, the party reminds to electors in a special electoral newsletter that Christian Democrats have got 35 million lei from the 2009 state budget to fund another 67 projects in Moldovan villages. PPCD does not keep in secret that these projects cover above all “the localities which voted the heart at the 2007 elections and other mayoralties which welcomed cooperation with our team.” (Source: Deca-Press)

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has registered the first independent candidate for the April 5 parliamentary elections. This is Serghei Banari, member of the Balti Municipal Council. The dossier submitted by Banari to CEC included lists with 2,500 signatures supporting his candidacy, the maximum number stipulated by the Election Code for the registration of an independent candidate to parliamentary elections (at least 2,000 signatures are necessary). As well, the commission considered a petition submitted by a group of 186 citizens readdressed to the Balti City Hall, in which they claim that signatures supporting this candidate would have been collected by “cheating” and demand their cancelation. Following a comparison of these signatures with official lists, it was established that only 16 of them “coincide partially.” None of petitioners indicated their domicile while 128 persons indicated just their first names, and therefore “they cannot be evidence.” After being registered, Banari told journalists that “a war between my team and the Party of Communists rather than electoral campaign will be held in Balti.” Banari will be the No.12 candidate in ballot papers. Stefan Uratu, chairman of the Helsinki-Moldova Committee for Human Rights, has also applied to the CEC for registration as independent candidate.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is considering the application submitted by the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) on February 17, through which it contested the refusal of communist authorities to ensure the right to vote of Moldovan nationals from other countries at the April 5, 2009 parliamentary elections. The party was informed in this respect by an official of the ECHR Chamber IV, Clare Ovey. PLDM signalled to ECHR the violation by Moldovan authorities of the electoral right guaranteed by Article 3 of the 1st Additional Protocol to the European Commission to which our country is part, being entrusted by Moldovan communities from Ireland, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. PLDM noted that it has plans to create a committee on protection of rights of Moldovan nations from other countries. (Source: press release by PLDM)

The Chisinau Court of Appeal turned down on Wednesday, February 25 the appeal by the Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) which has asked the court to oblige the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to open 20 supplementary polling stations outside Moldova. AMN will contest the decision in a higher law. AMN has asked the law court to outlaw the CEC’s refusal to open 20 supplementary polling stations in Romania, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, the United States, Portugal and Ireland. The law court decided that the AMN’s application “lacks a legal ground.” The sentence may be contested in the Supreme Court of Justice within three days after being pronounced. (Source: Info-Prim)

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin does not think that the acting governing deprives Moldovan nationals from other countries of the right to cast their ballots at elections. He assured about this in an interview with the radio station Yekho Moscvi. The president stated that actions by Moldovan authorities meet international documents and the 1962 Vienna Convention above all. Voronin considers that the topic on opening supplementary polling stations abroad was organised by opponents of the Party of Communists. Voronin said that this topic was “politicised” and it has one purpose — “to indicate the destructiveness of communists.” “I mean that this topic introduced by opponents reveals their incompetence,” said Voronin, adding that everyone may find evidence in any international legal document. The president stressed that 340,000 residents of Transnistria are citizens of Moldova who will be able to vote on the right bank of the Dniester because of divergences with authorities of the self-proclaimed Transnistrian republic.

The parliament elections in Moldova set for April 5, 2009 are decisive for the signing of a new association agreement between Moldova and the European Union (EU), Benita Ferrero Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, told a meeting with journalists from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova in Brussels on Tuesday. Benita Ferrero Waldner noted that the EU will carefully monitor the electoral campaign in Moldova, so that to be sure that it is fair, meets the legislation in force, respects human rights and freedom of the media. “EU has already worked out an association agreement with Moldova, but it will be discussed and analysed only after the parliamentary elections, which we consider very important for the signing of the new agreement,” the European commissioner stated (Source: INFOTAG)

Authorities have decided to adjudicate the victory at elections at all costs, after principle that nobody judge winners, Igor Munteanu, director of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives Viitorul, says in the issue 15 of Monitorul Economic. The publication was released on Tuesday, February 24. According to Munteanu, willing to perpetuate the electoral advantage, the Government approves salary rises, doubtful privatisation, while the most mediated PCRM candidates — the chief of state, the head of the Parliament and the prime minister — were not relieved from offices, using administrative resources the way they like. The public broadcaster praises the ruling in radio and TV programmes and it does not say a word about consequences of the financial crisis. (Source: Info-Prim)

Minister of Justice Vitalie Parlog paid an electoral visit to Prison 13 in Chisinau on February 24. He explained to the prison administration during a “working” meeting how and which party should be elected on April 5, 2009. He argued that the PCRM has greatest chances and perspectives to redress the situation in prisons, ordering that ballots from this penitentiary not to pose him problems at the forthcoming elections, sources from the prison have said. No one was available at the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday evening and the prison confirmed the visit, but noted that it was a “working” meeting with the minister’s participation. (Source: Ziarul de Garda)