Lokale verkiezingen Moldavië voor burgemeesterspost Chisinau verlopen rustig (en) - Hoofdinhoud

CHISINAU, 11 July 2005 - The first round of elections to the post of Mayor of Moldova's capital Chisinau generally complied with most OSCE commitments and Council of Europe election standards, the OSCE Mission to Moldova and a delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe said today.

However, yesterday's elections fell short of some key commitments, particularly regarding campaign conditions and registration of election observers. Improvements with regard to information for voters in polling stations would also be desirable.

The OSCE Mission, supported by three election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), carried out a political assessment of the elections. It followed the election campaign, regularly meeting election officials as well as candidates and civil society representatives.

On election day, six teams consisting of Mission Members and OSCE/ODIHR experts assessed the voting process in 97 out of the 283 polling stations.

The Congress delegation, composed of Pascal Mangin (France), Ludmila Sfirloaga (Romania) and David Lloyd-Williams (UK), followed voting procedures in several polling stations in Chisinau, including the central prison and the emergency hospital together with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council (SRSG), Ambassador Vladimir Philipov.

"While we were pleased to note that the elections were conducted in a calm atmosphere and in an orderly and professional manner on election day, we regret that the turnout requirement to make the elections valid has not been met," said Ambassador William Hill, the Head of the OSCE Mission, and Pascal Mangin, the head of the Congress delegation.

Repeat elections are expected to take place in Chisinau on 24 July.

The OSCE Mission noted that voters had a genuine choice between ten candidates who represented different political forces and points of view. Print media offered diverse political views and information on the candidates' electoral platforms. Broadcast media offered not only paid and free-of-charge electoral advertisements but also debates and covered campaign events in their news programmes.

"We are pleased to note that the regulations for covering the electoral campaign in the broadcast media were substantially improved after this year's parliamentary elections," they added. "We hope that the remaining shortcomings with regard to campaign regulations will be addressed without delay."

In this regard, the OSCE Mission made particular reference to the recent OSCE/ODIHR recommendation to provide candidates with sufficient space for campaign posters. It noted that the use of privately-owned advertisement space had been even more restricted than during the 2005 Parliamentary Elections.

Other shortcomings included instances of abuse of public resources and illegal campaigning by state employees, as well as the failure of the electoral administration to provide for timely registration of some local observers.

The OSCE Mission and the Congress delegation also called on the public broadcaster Teleradio Moldova to provide more balanced reporting in its newscasts, especially during election campaigns.

A more detailed assessment of the 2005 Mayor Elections in Chisinau will be prepared by the OSCE Mission after the completion of these elections.

For further information please contact

Claus Neukirch, Press and Public Affairs Officer, OSCE Mission to Moldova, 108 str. Mitropolit Dosoftei, MD-2012, Chisinau, Moldova, Tel: +373 22 223495, ext. 113, +373 6911 70 24 (mobile), Fax: +373 22 22 34 95, e-mail: claus.neukirch@osce.org

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