OSCE/ODIHR opens election observation mission for parliamentary elections in Moldova

CHISINAU, 24 October 2014 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 30 November 2014 parliamentary elections in Moldova. The mission’s deployment follows invitations from the authorities of the Republic of Moldova.

The mission is led by Ambassador Jan Petersen and consists of 11 experts based in Chisinau and 22 long-term observers to be deployed across the country. In addition, ODIHR will request 200 short-term observers to monitor proceedings on election day.  

The mission will assess the electoral process for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will monitor the legislative framework and its implementation, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, campaign activities, media coverage and the resolution of election disputes.

In the course of observation, the mission will meet with representatives of relevant authorities and political parties, as well as with candidates, and with representatives of the judiciary, civil society, the media and the international community.

On election day, observers will monitor voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results. For election day, the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission will join efforts with delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament (EP), among other parliamentary partners.  

The day after the elections, the mission will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately two months after the end of the electoral process.

The OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission and the office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova operate separately under their specific mandates.

For further information, please contact Ivan Godarsky, Media Analyst with the election observation mission, at +373 (0)68 480 577 (Chisinau mobile) or at [email protected] (e-mail).

or

Rachel Bending, OSCE/ODIHR Deputy Spokesperson, at +48 603 692 638 (Warsaw mobile), +373 (0)68 480 980 (Chisinau mobile) or at [email protected] (e-mail).