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Residents from Transnistria who hold the Moldovan citizenship do not want to participate in the Moldovan parliamentary elections on April 5. The chairman of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Transnistria, Piotr Denisenco, has made this announcement at a press conference in Tiraspol. According to Denisenco, Transnistria could contribute to the organisation of elections, “but an official statement by Chisinau which Moldova did not send so far is needed for this purpose.” He described as illegal Moldova’s efforts to open a polling station in the Corjova area controlled by Transnistria. Approximately 200,000 people from Transnistria hold the Moldovan citizenship. The Moldovan CEC has established 10 polling stations on the right bank of the Dniester where people from the secessionist region will be able to cast their ballots. (Source: Infotag)

Moldovan media watchdog CCA has turned down as groundless an application by the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) relating to electoral debates organised by the TV station Pro TV Chisinau. Dinu Ciocanu, head of the monitoring directorate of CCA, told a CCA sitting on Wednesday that the application was submitted by Serghei Sirbu, a PCRM representative to the Central Electoral Commission, who claimed that Pro TV Chisinau has aired some reports on poverty rate in Moldova and massive migration of people to other countries during electoral debates. These reports would be “biased” and would “disadvantage the PCRM.” (Source: Infotag)

Veterans and retirees, members of the “Moldova Unita” (United Moldova) Party (PDSMU) are calling on elderly from Moldova to vote for this party on April 5. According to a statement by the council of the organisation of veterans and retirees “Moldova Unita”, “all political forces except for «Moldova Unita» want to use the elderly.” “We thought that the Party of Communists will make our lives better. But this did not happen. PDSMU shows clear ways to resolve acute problems and we believe that the party will be able to rule the country and we will enjoy a decent living.” (Source: Infotag)

The Congress of Civil Society notifies the public opinion that the Party of Communists (PCRM) is illegally using administrative resources. Organisation member Fiodor Ghelici has reported lots of complaints from areas which signalled that the government allocates millions of lei to repair roads in villages, buildings, install gas pipes, but “all is done poorly, without any tenders and control on executed works.” (Source: Infotag)

Violations committed in electoral campaign endanger the validation of elections, jurists of the “Moldova Noastra” Alliance (AMN) fear. “The gravity of a series of breaches of legislation committed by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), higher-rankling state functionaries, some media institutions and electoral contestant Party of Communists endanger the results of elections,” the head of legal department of the AMN electoral staff and deliberate CEC member, Nicolae Raileanu, has told a press conference. So far, AMN jurists have submitted more than 100 applications to the CEC, Moldovan media watchdog CCA and opened litigations at all levels. As well, the AMN is calling upon its members and electors to answer to questions of the exit poll operators, in order to prevent and combat the election fraud by authorities. (Source: Info-Prim)

The “Actiunea Europeana” (European Action) Movement (MAE) refutes the press reports published on April 1 that it would withdraw from electoral competition. The online issue of newspaper Jurnal de Chisinau reported on Wednesday morning that the MAE leaves the electoral race, but did not note that this would be an April 1 joke. “The «Actiunea European» Movement denies categorically the untrue reports on withdrawal from electoral competition,” MAE chairman Anatol Petrencu told a press conference on Wednesday. The MAE considers that this action of the publication has an electoral nature and seriously deteriorates the party’s image. Jurnal de Chisinau said the same day that the news was an April 1 joke and deleted it from its online issue. (Source: Info-Prim)

About 30 members of the “Moldova Noastra” Alliance (AMN) have protested in front of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) against the release of some spots produced by the Party of Communists (PCRM) and introduced as belonging to the AMN. Protestors shouted “Down with the lie” and “Do not lie people on TV” etc. According to AMN spokesman and electoral candidate Victor Osipov, the CEC proves an exaggerated slowness in this case. He noted that the spots concerned are very dangerous, “as electors cannot realise that this is a counterfeiting.” “They are identical to AMN spots but cover some false commitments and ends with the scene «Urechean guarantees»,” Osipov added. (Source: Info-Prim)

The 16 electoral candidates which presented financial income and expense reports relating to the electoral campaign for the April 5 parliamentary elections have spent 23.3 million lei until now, according to the third financial report by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). It says that the PCRM has spent 5.3 million lei, PSD 3.8 million lei, PLDM 3.7 million lei, AMN 3.4 million lei, “Actiunea Europeana” Movement 2 million lei, PDM nearly 2 million lei, and PL 1.3 million lei. At the same time, the CEC forewarned the Conservative Party and independent candidates Victor Railean, Tatiana Timbalist and Valentina Cusnir for not submitting financial reports. As well, it forewarned the PLDM for not presenting the financial report before the deadline. (Source: Basa-press)

After almost two months of monitoring of 24 media institutions, the Independent Journalism Centre (CIJ) and Independent Press Association (API) assess that the trends observed at the beginning of electoral campaign persist. Firstly, certain media outlets advantage certain contestants. CIJ and API released on April 1 the results of the fifth round of monitoring the election coverage by 24 media institutions in Moldova (during March 19–25) within the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Coalition-2009”. Monitors observed that there are three groups of media outlets. The first group mainly supports the ruling party and criticises the opposition, while the second one criticises the PCRM and supports certain opposition parties. The third group is trying to cover the activity of electoral candidates fairly. (Source: Info-Prim)

The chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), Vlad Filat, has met with the head of the European Commission Delegation in Chisinau, Mr. Cesare De Montis. Filat informed the European official about social-political situation in Moldova and electoral campaign, signalling grave violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Election Code and, in particular, the restriction of free circulation of European citizens and Bessarabian students from Romania by state authorities. Filat asked the European Commission to take a prompt and principle position towards illegalities committed by Voronin’s regime. As well, the PLDM leader noted that the attitude of European organisations will meet the interest of Moldovan citizens. (Source: PLDM press release)

A voter’s guidebookRO for opinion formers and citizens developed by IDIS “Viitorul” was released. It explains the essence of parliamentary elections and competences and responsibilities of the legislative institution. The guidebook compiles electoral platforms of candidates running for the April 5 elections. It was published in a 300-copy circulation in the framework of the project “Enhancing civic responsibility within the 2009 electoral campaign” funded by the European Commission Delegation to Moldova. (Source: Deca-Press)

The Youth organisation of the Liberal Party (PL) has called upon all young people from Moldova to vote on April 5. The chairman of the organisation, Sergiu Boghean, has told a press conference that youths are the only means to operate the change in Moldova. “The elections will be decisive for Moldova’s destiny. I am calling upon all young people to vote any party but not any which promotes the communist regime… Your vote may change the country’s image in front of Europe.” (Source: Infotag)

On Tuesday afternoon, about ten disguised individuals laid hands on the former local leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), Ion Chitoroaga, right on stairs of the building which hosts the district branch of PLDM. Chitoroaga was recently dismissed from this office for having assaulted some journalists from the multimedia agency Omega in Chisinau. The local police did not want to give more details about this arrest. (Source: Deca-Press)

The Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) Viitorul will contest in the Chisinau Court of Appeal the March 31 decision by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to partially accept an application by the Party of Communists (PCRM) vs. IDIS Viitorul and Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Coalition-2009”. A PCRM representative asked the CEC on March 17 to forewarn the IDIS in connection with violation of electoral legislation, indicating especially some civic education materials developed by IDIS in the framework of the project “Enhansing civic responsibility within the 2009 electoral campaign” funded by the European Commission Delegation to Moldova via the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. The PCRM claims that the materials concerned target PCRM and make electoral propaganda for its opponents. (Source: Info-Prim)

The Liberal Party (PL) and the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) have reconfirmed their willingness to build a post-electoral ruling coalition after elections. PLDM leader Vlad Filat and deputy PL chairman Dorin Chirtoaca delivered statements in this regard during electoral debates aired by the TV station Moldova-1 on Tuesday evening. Earlier, the “Moldova Noastra” Alliance (AMN) has also indicated plans to participate in a post-electoral democratic coalition. PLDM and PL are confident that they are able “to build a democratic governing in the Republic of Moldova.” On the other hand, the two parties criticised each other for their behaviour in electoral campaign. “Territorial representatives of PLDM invite electors to vote for Chirtoaca and the oak. This is wrong,” Chirtoaca stated. Filat replied that “such accusations are regrettable,” noting that “when electors vote for the oak, they know that they elect Vlad Filat, but when they vote for Dorin Chirtoaca, they elect Mihai Ghimpu in fact.” (Source: Infotag)

About 40 policemen clashed with 100 protestors representing the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) in the Great National Assembly Square (PMAN) on April 1 morning. PLDM representatives wanted to install tents in the square, while policemen did not allow them, saying that a judicial decision was expected to ban the PLDM to install the tents. The police left the PMAN at 11:00 after the Court of Appeal awarded victory to the PLDM and turned down the police appeal. After an hour and half of clashes, PLDM protestors installed a tent in the Great National Assembly Square and a panel calling for a “Fear-Free Voting”. (Source: Unimedia)

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) accredited Tuesday 258 more national and international observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. Most of them (94) represent the League for the Protection of Human Rights, the public association called National Centre of the Roma (33), the First Club of the Council of Europe Association (22), the regional public association Cerkavsk called the Association of Young Lawyers, Ukraine (20) etc. So far, the CEC has accredited about 2,500 national and international observers. The 30th of March was the deadline to apply for accreditation of electoral observers. (Source: Moldpres)