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Negative trend observed during Moldova's local elections must be reversed
WARSAW 14 August 2003
WARSAW, 14 August 2003 - The negative trend observed during Moldova's local elections, held on 25 May and 8 June 2003, is a source of concern and must be reversed, concludes a report issued today by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The report notes that the administration of the elections, the legal framework and voting procedures were "generally in accordance with OSCE commitments." However, in what it describes as a "negative development" compared to previous elections, the report identifies a number of shortcomings, such as heavily biased reporting by the state media and interference by the authorities in the election process, including misuse of public resources for campaign purposes.
"We call on the Moldovan authorities to undertake every effort to correct the negative trend that marked some aspects of the election environment and build on the considerable progress made so far in other areas," said Steven Wagenseil, the ODIHR's Deputy Director.
The ODIHR, Europe's leading election-monitoring institution, has offered to work with Moldovan authorities and civil society to address the shortcomings identified in this and previous reports.
The report notes that the administration of the elections, the legal framework and voting procedures were "generally in accordance with OSCE commitments." However, in what it describes as a "negative development" compared to previous elections, the report identifies a number of shortcomings, such as heavily biased reporting by the state media and interference by the authorities in the election process, including misuse of public resources for campaign purposes.
"We call on the Moldovan authorities to undertake every effort to correct the negative trend that marked some aspects of the election environment and build on the considerable progress made so far in other areas," said Steven Wagenseil, the ODIHR's Deputy Director.
The ODIHR, Europe's leading election-monitoring institution, has offered to work with Moldovan authorities and civil society to address the shortcomings identified in this and previous reports.