ODIHR opens election observation mission in Moldova

CHISINAU, 23 September 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 1 November presidential election in Moldova. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is led by Corien Jonker and consists of a core team of 11 experts based in Chisinau and 24 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 30 September. In addition, ODIHR will request that the participating States provide 200 short-term observers, who will arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the presidential election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the election, including potential post-election developments. Specific areas of focus include the implementation of the amended legal framework, candidate registration, campaign activities, as well as election dispute resolution and election media coverage. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

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

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results. 

The mission will publish an interim report in the course of its work, and will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference the day after the election. ODIHR will issue a final report on the observation approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

The ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Mission to Moldova operate separately and independently under their own mandates.

For further information, contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR spokesperson: [email protected] or +48 609 522 266

Kira Kalinina, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission: [email protected] or +373 69002667