Local Elections, 3 and 17 June 2007

Following invitations from Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and the Central Election Commission, ODIHR deployed an election observation mission on 24 April to observe the local elections on 3 and 17 June.

Headed by Ambassador Dieter Boden of Germany, the mission consisted of 25 experts and long-term observers from 19 OSCE participating States, who were based in Chisinau and five regional centres.

For election-day observation during both rounds, the mission joined efforts with a delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. For the first round, some 187 short-term observers from 45 OSCE participating States were deployed. For the second round, some 88 observers from 32 OSCE participating States were deployed.

According to the mission's final report: "While the 2007 local elections in the Republic of Moldova were generally well administered, and the diverse field of contestants offered voters a genuine choice, the election fell short of a number of OSCE Commitments central to a competitive electoral process. In particular, the right of citizens to seek public office and equitable media access were not fully respected. The second round on 17 June displayed marginal improvements, but key problems persisted."

Long-term observation

The OSCE/ODIHR conducted a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) from 21 to 23 February 2007 in order to assess the conditions and preparations for the elections and to advise on the level of ODIHR involvement in these elections. The NAM recommended that a standard election observation mission be deployed.

The EOM, headed by Ambassador Dieter Boden of Germany, consists of 14 international staff based in Chisinau drawn from ten OSCE participating States. Twelve long-term observers are expected to arrive by 30 April and to be deployed throughout the country on 2 May.

The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes, including OSCE commitments, as well as national legislation. Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, media coverage, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media environment, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the resolution of election disputes. The monitoring of the coverage of the pre-electoral campaign in the media will be an important part of the EOM's work.

Election day

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested 100 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 3 June elections. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results. Contingent on there being second round contests in some districts on 17 June, short-term observers will monitor those contests as well. 

The day after the 3 June elections, the Election Observation Mission will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed a number of electoral events in Moldova, including: parliamentary elections in 2005, 2001 and 1998, presidential election in 1996 and local elections in 2003.