The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy, Olivér Várhelyi, welcomed the early parliamentary elections in Moldova on Monday 12 July.
“In this vote, the people of Moldova demonstrated their commitment to democracy and the Rule of law”, the EU representatives said in a statement. The pro-European Action and Solidarity party of the President, Maia Sandu, won almost 48% of the vote. The High Representative and the Commissioner looked forward to working in partnership with a “stable and strong government and parliament to meet the challenges facing the country”.
Echoing the preliminary findings of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, Mr Borrell and Mr Várhelyi considered that the elections were “well administered and competitive” and that fundamental freedoms were largely respected. “Candidates had ample opportunities to campaign and voters were provided a wide range of alternatives”, they said.
However, the ODIHR found shortcomings throughout the campaign and on election day, “notably the lack of effective campaign finance oversight, political bias displayed by the majority of monitored news outlets, lack of adequate legal framework to regulate electoral dispute resolution, and the handling of electoral complaints”, the High Representative and the Commissioner listed. They also pointed out that the decisions on the number of polling stations to be established abroad and for voters residing in Transnistria, as well as the issue of voter transportation, raised questions about the impartiality of the Central Election Commission.
“The EU is ready to support the Republic of Moldova in addressing the identified shortcomings and outstanding recommendations by the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission”, Mr Borrell and Mr Várhelyi said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)