OSCE/ODIHR report recommends review of elections-related legal framework in Moldova
The review of the legal framework and enhancing capacity and authority of the campaign finance oversight body are two of the main recommendations contained in the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 30 November 2014 parliamentary elections in Moldova.
While the report, published on 10 March 2015, notes some recent amendments to the Election Code, in particular related to the work of the election administration, it also states that a number of recommendations remain unaddressed, including clarifying vague and inconsistent provisions that pose challenges to consistent and effective application of the law. The report recommends the revision of legislation to remove contradictions between the Election Code and other laws, through an open and inclusive process.
In noting concerns about limitations to suffrage rights, the report recommends that provisions that suspend legal capacity and grant guardianship should be reviewed. It also notes that limitations on the right to stand for office, including for military personnel, should be minimized. The report also calls on political parties to promote the nomination of national minorities and of women to winnable positions on party lists, giving them a greater chance of election.
While the report notes that the new centralized State Register of Voters represents an important step forward, it recommends timely, full-scale testing, along with post-election audits and the introduction of observer access provisions to enhance the Register’s reliability and transparency. The establishment of a national address register to support civil status and residency registration would contribute to increased accuracy of the source data.
The report also calls for a transparent process and clear criteria in determining the number and location of polling stations abroad. These could include the number of citizens eligible to vote in a given country or location.
Other recommendations include measures to increase the transparency and to reduce the concentration of media ownership. The report also points to the need to adopt the pending revisions to party and campaign finance regulations, including with regard to the authority of the oversight body.
The ODIHR election observation mission issued a joint preliminary statement of findings and conclusions with delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament on 1 December 2014.