Moldovan parliament to subject electoral legislation to expertise

Chisinau, 12 July /MOLDPRES/ - The parliament will analyze, assess and subject to expertise the electoral legislation which stayed at the basis of the invalidation of the new local polls in the Chisinau municipality. At the today’s meeting, the parliament passed a decision to this end with the votes of most lawmakers present at the meeting.   

Thus, the juridical commission for rules and immunities will make a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework which stayed at the basis of the invalidation of the new local elections in the Chisinau city. The expertise will be carried out in line with the international standards in terms of elections, with reference to the premises and legal motivation which stayed at the basis of the invalidation of the new local polls, including the ones dealing with the use of social networks, as well as the proportionality of the sanctions imposed.  

The conclusions and proposals by the commission will be presented to the parliament in a 60-day term. They will include proposals on the improvement of the relevant normative framework, in order to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and strengthen the electoral rights of Moldova’s citizens.   

Under the decision, the juridical commission for rules and immunities can involve in the process of subjecting the legislation to expertise specialists from the parliament’s secretariat, Central Electoral Commission, representatives of the local and central public authorities. The commission can also resort to the assistance of independent experts on behalf of the civil society, including those from abroad. 

The initiative to subject the electoral legislation to expertise belongs to a group of MPs.  

It is worth mentioning that new local polls were held on 20 May and 3 June 2018, including elections for the office of Chisinau general mayor. The law courts invalidated the new polls for the office of Chisinau general mayor and based on these decisions, the Central Electoral Commission declared this ballot as null.