Voter bribery is a serious problem for elections in Moldova: ENEMO preliminary report

The presidential election and referendum scheduled for October 20 in Moldova are taking place amid a decisive debate in society about the country's geopolitical orientation.

This is reported by NewsMaker.

The report says that the Central Election Commission is working effectively and transparently. However, attempts to interfere in the electoral process by bribing voters or other means pose a serious problem not only for the current elections but also for future democratic development. This conclusion was made on October 12 in a preliminary report by representatives of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO).

ENEMO Head of Mission Dritan Taulla said that the election campaign was calm, but there were attempts to interfere in the electoral process.

"The 2024 presidential election and referendum are taking place against the backdrop of a decisive debate in the public sphere about the country's geopolitical orientation. The electoral process is organized in an efficient and transparent manner, and government agencies are working intensively to improve control over political financing. At the same time, attempts to interfere in the electoral process by bribing voters or other means pose a serious problem not only for the current elections, but also for the future development of democracy in the country," said the head of the mission.

ENEMO expert Mariam Csubabria noted that after the last presidential election in 2020, Moldova adopted a new Electoral Code. According to her assessment, the reform process was "transparent, comprehensive and inclusive, in line with ENEMO's previous recommendation. The legal framework provides a sound basis for the conduct of elections in line with international obligations and standards."

ENEMO's report states that the Central Election Commission of Moldova operates in an efficient and transparent manner and enjoys the trust of its stakeholders, but some have expressed doubts, particularly about the composition of the commission.

ENEMO also spoke about external influence on the elections.

"The social and political environment in Moldova is subject to negative influence by third parties, such as foreign state actors or individuals and groups engaged in illegal or negative economic, social and political activities directed against democratic institutions and the rule of law," the report says.

According to observers, the findings of law enforcement agencies on the possible illegal financing of some presidential candidates could seriously affect the election process.

Ігор Льов