alegeri.md

The majority of media outlets continue covering the electoral campaign with more or less bias, having their editorial policy influenced by editors’ and owners’ preferences. According to the third report on pre-electoral monitoring of mass media, produced by the Association of Independent Press (AIP), the Electronic Press Association (APEL) and the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) and presented at a press conference, the situation with the balance of sources and bias towards electoral contestants between 1 and 8 November was largely the same as during the previous weeks. The report covers the activity of 12 televisions, 5 radios, 10 online portals and 8 newspapers. // IPN

At a press conference, Minister of Youth and Sport Octavian Bodisteanu announced about his joining the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), having left the Liberal Reformatory Party last week. Bodisteanu said that his decision was caused by the fact that the PDM supports sports more than other political entities. The minister was accompanied at the press conference by a group of trainers and professional athletes, who also announced about their joining the PDM and supporting it in parliamentary elections. // IPN

If elections had taken place last Sunday, five parties would have gotten into the Parliament: the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), the “Patria (Homeland)” Party and the Liberal Party (PL). At least, such are the results of the opinion poll on the topic of “The perspective of active voters in Moldova before parliamentary elections”, produced by the Institute of Marketing and Polls IMAS-INC between 1 and 10 November 2014 at the order of the IPN news agency.

Thus, 21.2% would have voted for the PCRM, 17.8% for the PLDM, 12.9% for the PDM, 9.6% for the “Patria (Homeland)” Party, 7.3% for the PL, and 3.9% for the Party of Socialists. At the same time, the undecided make up 10.8%, and those who could not give an answer to this question made up over 11%.

The poll’s margin of error is +/- 3% and it was conducted on a sample of 1,005 persons from 75 localities.

At a press conference, the Liberal Party of Moldova (PL) explained the reasons why Moldova should adhere to the NATO and presented seven basic pillars for the modernization of the army and for ensuring its compatibility with the NATO.

The party intends to increase expenses for defense from the current 0.5% of the GDP to 2% of the GDP, like in every member country of the NATO; to transform the body of officers into the society’s elite; to create a republican company subordinated to the Ministry of Defense; to place on the territory of Moldova units of the National Army and combat equipment according to Moldova’s needs of defense; to create a military information service subordinated to the Ministry of Defense; to increase the interoperability with the armies of the NATO countries; and to have Moldova re-entering NATO early warning programs.

According to the “Civic Control — Elections 2014” Coalition, governing parties — the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party — are the first in terms of the violations committed in the electoral campaign 17 days before the elections. The Coalition found violations in the placement of leaflets and posters in prohibited places, mentioning the “Renastere (Renaissance)” Party and the Party of Socialists, who are sticking them to pillars, fences and even trees. In this context, experts called for the international observers accredited in Moldova to monitor the electoral campaign and to record violations of the law.

At the same time, experts believe that the parliamentary elections of 30 November can be thwarted or not recognized due to the fact that the “electronic register of voters will be used for the first time in elections and the Central Electoral Commission’s technical readiness for its application raises questions.”

According to a press release, the Agrarian Party of Moldova (PAM) expressed its support for the “Renastere (Renaissance)” Party (PR) in the parliamentary elections of 30 November. The PAM believes that the “Renastere (Renaissance)” Party can protect the rights of agricultural workers and that it will be able to restore relations with the Russian Federation and with other member states of the CIS. The PAM underlines that the PR positively differs from other political entities by its foresight and lack of extremist attitudes and populism. // rrm.md