Parliamentary Elections, 30 November 2014

Press Conference

Following an official invitation, and based on the findings and conclusions of an OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission  undertaken from 2 to 5 September, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the 30 November parliamentary elections.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Mission to Moldova operate separately under their specific mandates.

Long-term observation

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Ambassador Jan Petersen, consists of 13 international experts based in Chisinau. In addition, 22 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 31 October.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM will assess these elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

Short-term observers

The OSCE/ODIHR requests participating States to second two hundred (200) short-term observers (STOs) to observe voting, counting and the tabulation of results. Please consult information sheet request for short-term observers for more information and register on the Short-Term Observers Database: http://stodb.odihr.pl

Election Day

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested 200 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 30 November 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.

The day after the elections, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

Co-operation with Other Partners

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament (EP), among other parliamentary partners are planning to deploy observer delegations for these elections.

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed ten elections in Moldova, most recently the 2011 local elections.