Parliament's Legal Committee: Electoral agitation could be allowed on eve of election
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On the eve of elections but also on election day, electoral agitation could be allowed. A recommendation in this sense was made by the Parliament's Legal Commission following consultations with electoral experts in our country, as well as after studying the electoral legislation in other states.
According to Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, deputies should develop as soon as possible a draft law amending the Electoral Code, to be voted by the end of November when the mandate of the current Legislative expires.
The Legal Commission has decided to conduct a broad analysis of electoral legislation after 32 elections have been canceled on the grounds that electoral campaigning has taken place on days when it was banned. The most recent case was the local elections in Chisinau, which was invalidated after Andrei Nastase and Ion Ceban urged people to vote and campaigned on election day, including on the Internet. Actually, electoral agitation before and on election day is forbidden, but the law does not specify whether the ban is also valid in the online environment.
"Taking into account that these restrictions have caused more problems and not only in these elections, but also in the past, in the course of history, taking into account the discussions that are in the specialized field of lawyers with regard to the electoral process and the suggestions non-governmental organizations lead to the fact that these restrictions should probably be excluded from the Electoral Code in our legislation and, most likely, soon, deputies will come up with a legislative initiative to amend the electoral code", said Andrian Candu, the Parliament Speaker.
The Jury's report also mentions that "The Day of Silence" does not exist in other countries, and its abolition in Moldova will not lead to violations of electoral principles. Restrictions will remain valid only for and around polling stations. The initiative was consulted with the electoral experts of the "Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections", "CReDO", "Promo-LEX".
According to Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, deputies should develop as soon as possible a draft law amending the Electoral Code, to be voted by the end of November when the mandate of the current Legislative expires.
The Legal Commission has decided to conduct a broad analysis of electoral legislation after 32 elections have been canceled on the grounds that electoral campaigning has taken place on days when it was banned. The most recent case was the local elections in Chisinau, which was invalidated after Andrei Nastase and Ion Ceban urged people to vote and campaigned on election day, including on the Internet. Actually, electoral agitation before and on election day is forbidden, but the law does not specify whether the ban is also valid in the online environment.
"Taking into account that these restrictions have caused more problems and not only in these elections, but also in the past, in the course of history, taking into account the discussions that are in the specialized field of lawyers with regard to the electoral process and the suggestions non-governmental organizations lead to the fact that these restrictions should probably be excluded from the Electoral Code in our legislation and, most likely, soon, deputies will come up with a legislative initiative to amend the electoral code", said Andrian Candu, the Parliament Speaker.
The Jury's report also mentions that "The Day of Silence" does not exist in other countries, and its abolition in Moldova will not lead to violations of electoral principles. Restrictions will remain valid only for and around polling stations. The initiative was consulted with the electoral experts of the "Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections", "CReDO", "Promo-LEX".