ODIHR experts present reports on recent elections and referendum and discuss recommendations in Moldova

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report on Moldova’s 2025 parliamentary elections, and discussed the final reports on the 2024 presidential election and constitutional referendum and 2023 local elections during a visit to Chișinău from 30 March until 2 April. 

“We appreciate the invitation from the Moldovan authorities and the wide-ranging discussions held concerning the reports on recent elections,” said Jillian Stirk, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the 2025 Parliamentary Elections. “We welcome the steps taken towards implementing previous recommendations and encourage the authorities to use this time ahead of the next cycle of elections to work closely with all institutions, political parties and civil society to continue reform of the legal framework and to enhance transparency.” 

The delegation discussed key findings with government officials, the election administration, the Constitutional Court, the Parliament’s Legal Committee on Appointments and Immunities and representatives of civil society. The exchanges focused on the planned reforms to election legislation, including provisions to better regulate candidate registration and prevent arbitrary de-registration, measures to improve institutional arrangements to address foreign interference and illicit financing, and the need to enhance the transparency of counter-disinformation efforts. 

ODIHR experts outlined areas where ODIHR could work with national institutions and offered assistance to bring the electoral process closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards, including through legal reviews and sharing best practices. 

ODIHR’s election observation also assesses the country’s efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Moldova, the ODIHR mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations on the 2021 parliamentary and 2023 local elections, as well as the 2024 presidential election and constitutional referendum. It concluded that nine recommendations were fully implemented, twelve recommendations were mostly implemented and twenty-one were partially addressed, while the others remain to be carried out. 

Further details can be found in the ODIHR Electoral Recommendations Database. All OSCE participating States have committed to following up promptly on ODIHR's election assessments and recommendations.