OSCE/ODIHR opens limited observation mission for Moldova’s local elections

CHISINAU, 11 May 2011 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights today opened a limited election observation mission to monitor the 5 June local elections in Moldova.

The mission, headed by Gerald Mitchell, deployed following an invitation from the Moldovan authorities. It comprises 11 experts, who will be based in Chisinau, and 14 long-term observers, who will be deployed to different regions of the country.

The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

The mission will follow the entire election process, including the legal framework and its implementation, campaign activities, the work of the election administration in the regions, the compilation of voter lists, the media coverage of the campaign and the resolution of election-related disputes.

In line with ODIHR’s methodology for limited election observation missions, the mission will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation on election day. Mission members will, however, visit a small number of polling stations across the country to follow election day procedures.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

The ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission to Moldova operate separately under their specific mandates.