Candidate for Moldovan president office asks for setting webcams in polling stations

Chisinau, 4 October  /MOLDPRES/ – The leader of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) Maia Sandu, today asked Parliament, the Government and the Central Election Commission (CEC) to ensure the installation cameras of surveillance in each polling station during the period of the presidential elections in autumn this year.

According to the head of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), video surveillance would allow each electoral actor, observer or ordinary citizen to be able to follow the process of voting and counting online, so reducing to minimum the act of election fraud. "As technically, so in legal terms, putting in video cameras before elections start is possible. The Central Election Commission (CEC) has the right to make purchases of equipment needed for elections, without any public tender. At the same time, legally, it is not compulsory that the item of cameras’ installation to be provided in the Electoral Code, while being enough one plain CEC’s decision. However, it will require supplementing the Electoral Code, the parliamentary majority may be convened to vote on the needed amendments," said Maia Sandu.

The leader of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) also said that installing cameras in polling stations would not require not more than ten million lei to spend. "From the technical point of view, to incorporate viewing of a polling station it is needed only for a camera, it is important it to be installed in a place that would cover the entire inside area. If we assume that the price of medium-quality video cameras on the market is three thousand lei, for two thousand polling stations it would be required about six million lei. However, if we include amounts for installation and related equipment, the total cost will be more than ten million lei. Subsequently, the cameras could be used in other elections or to ensure the safety of children in educational institutions," said Sandu.

Requested by the Agency, CEC chairman Alina Russu, stated that "the Commission has not received any official request. Where will be presented such a request, the CEC will examine it according to the law," said Russu.

The presidential elections will take place on 30 October. The CEC registered, so far, Eight candidates as contenders for Moldovan president office: Marian Lupu – the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), Mihai Ghimpu – Liberal Party (PL), Iurie Leanca – PPEM (People’s European Party of Moldova), Andrei Nastase – PPDA (Party Platform Dignity and Truth), Ina Popenco – Ravnopravie (Equality of rights), Dumitru Ciubasenco – PN (Our Party), Maia Sandu – PAS (Action and Solidarity Party) and Igor Dodon – PSRM (Socialist Party of Moldova). Referred to other eight candidates, CEC will announce until 6 October.