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Some electoral contestants have a behaviour which undermines the competitiveness of electoral process despite repeated warnings by observers. This is the conclusion of the 5th monitoring report by the League for the Protection of Human Rights (LADOM), which is part of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Coalition-2009”. Actions relating to the electoral campaign were generally legal during the monitoring period (March 18 — April 2). However, LADOM has observed some violations as well. According to LADOM, some electoral contestants prove an indecent behaviour and are morally wrong towards other runners, use dirty methods to discredit their political opponents. Despite previous warnings, some candidates continued to use administrative resources in electoral campaign. As well, LADOM observers signalled cases when local public authorities intimidated and mishandled representatives of electoral candidates. Local authorities kept pressing and intimidating electors on administrative ways. Journalists and electoral observers faced pressures so far. (Source: Info-Prim)

Majority of electoral runners have insufficiently covered the gender dimension in electoral programmes. This conclusion belongs to the ProGen 2009 Alliance, which has studied electoral programmes in this light. “Just two parties formulated express and included equal chances for women and men among priorities of electoral platforms, and propose a set of solutions in this respect,” Catinca Mardarovici, director of the Women’s Political Club 50/50, a member of the ProGen 2009 Alliance, told a press conference on Thursday, April 2. These are the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party. Experts in gender matters were deeply disappointed that very few platforms cover major social problems such as combating violence and trafficking in persons, which capture the attention of all European and international organisations and concern women the most. Earlier, ProGen 2009 has studied electoral lists and signalled a strong gender disequilibrium. (Source: Info-Prim)

The Social Democratic Party of Moldova (PSD) estimates that it will win 17–20 percent of the ballots at the parliamentary elections on April 5, since it is the No.1 candidate on ballot papers. Victor Selin, electoral candidate on behalf of PSD, told a press conference on Thursday that the party holds 250,000 signatures by people who want to vote it. He noted that the PSD will raise its anti-crisis programme in the Parliament. (Source: Infotag)

As many as 3,134 national and international observers will monitor the parliamentary elections on Sunday, the Central Electoral Commission said on Thursday. This number includes 2,532 national observers nominated by 14 nongovernmental organisations and electoral candidates. At the same time, the 602 international observers were nominated by 28 international organisations, foreign governments and nongovernmental organisations. As many as 1,977 polling stations will be opening nationwide for the parliamentary elections on Sunday from 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m., local time. (Source: Moldpres)

The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) has stopped picketing round o’clock the Government headquarters within the “Fear-Free Voting” campaign, meeting this way a decision by the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ). The higher law court has outlawed an authorisation allowing the PLDM to hold protests and install tents in the Great National Assembly Square. The CSJ decision is definitive and irrevocable. (Source: PLDM press release)

The No.1 goal for the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova at the April 5 parliamentary elections is to preserve the present political majority which will further allow maintaining the social-economic stability in the country. PCRM chairman Vladimir Voronin has delivered statements in this regard to the Russian agency RBK. According to Voronin, the goal to maintain the political majority is linked to the fact that two concepts about the world, two contrarily opposite opinions about the country and its future, about relations with neighbours, including with Russia, are competing at the present elections in Moldova. Voronin believes that the PCRM has a very united and professional team and its unity and mutual understanding guarantee the already established stability in Moldova. (Source: Moldpres)

Two policemen will guard each polling station from 100 meters on April 5, in order to ensure the rule of law. Petru Corduneanu, head of the directorate-general on police and public order within the Interior Ministry, has made this announcement at a press conference. Corduneanu stated that starting on Thursday, by two policemen will supervise the carriage of ballot papers from printing companies to polling stations nationwide. The policemen will be armed and escorted by a mobile traffic police team. Another two policemen will safeguard the ballot papers at each polling station until Sunday morning at 06:00 a.m. The policemen will be on duty after the closing of polling stations at 09:00 p.m. as well. They do not have the right to enter polling stations in their service uniforms, with service or personal weapons, except for enlisted military. Asked how the public order will be ensured in the village of Corjova, Corduneanu said that “both the Interior Ministry and competent services of state leadership will take efficient measures to ensure the good conduct of elections nationwide inclusively in Corjova.” (Source: Info-Prim)

The “Moldova Noastra” Alliance (AMN) “is hit below the belt by the local communist grouping led by Vituik clan” in Balti in the latest period, according to a press statement released by the party. “Mobile advertising posters of AMN are roughly sequestered and unidentified individuals destroyed the advertising banner of 6X6 meters of AMN in Decebal Street early on April 2,” reads the statement. According to Alexandru Volcov, AMN leader in Balti, nine mobile panels of AMN were stolen and another four were destroyed in this city during ongoing electoral campaign. He was ill-treated by members of so-called local “popular guards” made of boxers from a Balti-based sport club in late March. (Source: Deca-Press)

Daniel Tonu, head of the electoral staff of the Democratic Party (PDM) in the Ialoveni rayon, is accusing the deputy chairman of this rayon, Valeriu Erhan, of having stopped waterline extension works in the commune of Zambreni. Zambreni mayor Daniel Tonu criticised the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), accusing liberal democratic councillors of cooperating with their communist fellows both in Zambreni and in the Ialoveni rayon. “Those who shout loudly «Down with the Communists!» today will give a hand to the communists tomorrow,” Tonu said about PLDM at a press conference. On January 26, 2009, Daniel Tonu quitted the PLDM and joined the PDM. On the other hand, Valeriu Erhan, incumbent chairman of the Ialoveni rayon, described these accusations as untrue. (Source: Info-Prim)

Vlad Filat, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), claims to hold evidence that the Ministry of Information Development and a printing company owned by Oleg Voronin have illegally printed more than 200,000 ballot papers. He has told journalists that these ballot papers “will be used to falsify the elections.” The PLDM leader claims that the illegally printed ballot papers will be placed in polling stations from localities ruled by communist and Christian democratic mayors. He promised to provide evidence in this respect to the representative of the European Commission in Chisinau and the U.S. ambassador to Moldova. The PLDM has called upon high-ranking officials, observers and common citizens to be vigilant and “prevent the election fraud.” Earlier, other parties such as “Moldova Noastra” Alliance and Democratic Party of Moldova have feared that the results of elections could be falsified. (Source: Infotag)

The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) is calling upon electors to fulfil their duty of citizens boldly and vote the party which will rule the country for four years and will decide the country’s fate in the Parliament. The PCRM call advises electors “to make a well-calculate and responsible choice, without being lured or negotiating.” “These are special elections. We have never been so close to the edge that could ruin all our plans and hopes. In this crucial moment, when the whole world crosses a bitter economic crisis which is hardly held at our borders, the fate of the country depends on you, on your decision, on your ballot as never before,” the communists said. (Source: Infotag)

The individuals who threw yellow painting bags on the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) on March 31 at 04:20 drove a Toyota car purchased by Nicolae Robu, chairman of the Straseni district council, reads a press release by the Interior Ministry. It was found out that the assault involved approximately 5 individuals who drove a Toyota with the number plate BL CW 388 registered on the name of Iurie Vlasiuc from the city of Balti. The man told investigators that the car was sold on the basis of a general trust to citizen Robu Nicolae Ion, who was born in 1957 and resides the city of Straseni. In his turn, Nicolae Robu told policemen that the car is driven by his sons Vitalie, born in 1982, and Alexandru Robu, born in 1987, but “refuses to introduce them to investigators because he is afraid that law enforcement bodies could hold them.” A criminal case is underway. Earlier, Nicolae Robu compared at a press conference the police records and pictures of his car, but discovered plenty of facts, inclusively different manufacturing years of the two cars. He said there are witnesses who may confirm that his son was with them when the assault took place. (Source: Moldpres/ Deca-press)

Seven persons have been sanctioned for deliberate deterioration of electoral billboards, among them representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), “Moldova Noastra” Alliance (AMN) and Social Democratic Party (PSD). Nicolae Macovei, head of the public security directorate of the Interior Ministry, says that the police recorded five cases of deterioration of legal electoral billboards in Chisinau municipality, which involved PLDM, PSD and AMN members. Another two cases involving PPCD members were registered in the Edinet rayonf, while AMN representatives committed such offences in Orhei. According to Macovei, the police recorded 81 illegal electoral advertising cases involving 131 people since the beginning of electoral campaign. As many as 122 reports were issued on their names and law courts examined 78 of them. Fines for illegal electoral posting account for 14,700 lei overall. (Source: Basa-press)

Leaders of the Labour Union “Patria-Родина (Homeland)” consider that the problem of combating the corruption exists but it is not of first importance. Info-Prim quoted UMPR leader Gheorghe Sima as saying that all political parties should immediately focus on economy and guaranteeing the right of workers to a decent living. “EU and CIS member states focussed their efforts on this problem.” (Source: Info-Prim)