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Within the briefing organized for international observers, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Eugen Stirbu, declared that everything is ready for the parliamentary elections of November 28.Summarizing the preparations, the CEC Chairman informed that CEC has spent 43.162 million lei to organise the elections, it has improved 22 regulations and instructions, edited special guidance for leaders of local public administration bodies, organized seminars and a comprehensive public awareness raising campaign about elections. Expenditures of electoral competitors in the campaign were over 45.7 million lei. The main electoral lists include 2,650,290 persons with voting right. In total, 2,808,343 ballots were printed, which are distributed in 2037 polling stations. Moldovan citizens living in Transnistria will be able to vote in 21 stations, including three in Chisinau. Elections will be monitored by 600 international observers from 33 countries and organizations, as well as 3,700 national observers, representing 20 nongovernmental structures and political parties.

Prime Minister Vlad Filat chaired a meeting on the issue of ensuring necessary conditions for the smooth conduct of parliamentary elections of November 28, 2010, attended by responsible persons from the following ministries: Economy, Transportation and Road Infrastructure, Interior, Information and Communications Technology, Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Intelligence and Security Service, Prosecutor General Office and leadership of “RED Union Fenosa” SA and SE “Moldtelecom”. The meeting focused on the current situation and set out the tasks and responsibilities of administrative authorities and enterprises providing services that are involved in organizing the elections of November 28, 2010. According to policy makers, all services are ready for conducting the elections on November 28. Representatives of the involved institutions will have teams in duty, who will work 24 of 24 hours during the period November 26 to 29, ensuring uninterrupted operation of involved service and necessary assistance to the territorial electoral authorities. All polling stations will each be assisted by at least two policemen, who will ensure public order, the electricity supply will be ensured, as well as telephone connection etc.

Promo-LEX Association presented the last pre-electoral observation report, covering the period November 9 to 25, 2010. The report reiterates a number of concerns:

• the lack of financial transparency in case of electoral competitors regarding the travel expenses, the expenses for publishing electoral materials, for organizing meetings with voters (concerts) and staff remuneration.
• intensification of cases of forced agitation with participation of decision makers in educational institutions and local public administration;
• the use of administrative resources for electoral purposes, including the candidates relieved from office;
• precariousness and poor arrangements of the electoral bureaus and premises for voting.

Among the recommendations made by the observers, the following may be noted:

• to improve the mechanism for monitoring the expenditures of electoral competitors by introducing a detailed expenditure form (the existing form is a general one);
• to develop a list of institutions that are not allowed to campaign (middle and high schools, universities);
• to prevent and combat cases of electoral postings in unauthorized areas;
• to develop some measures to ensure and facilitate the exercise of voting rights by the citizens from Transnistria;
• to investigate and prevent cases of voter intimidation by electoral competitors.

The Human Rights Institute (IDOM) has assessed the quality and accuracy of voter lists for elections of November 28 and found that, compared with the constitutional referendum on September 5, the number of voters in early parliamentary elections decreased by about 1240 voters. Compared with 2009, the electoral lists are of better quality and detected errors will not influence the electoral outcome. IDOM experts praised the CEC activity in the organization of an active awareness raising campaign through media, and urged to move as fast as possible towards the electronic register of voters for a quick verification of lists and safety of the voting process.

European Parliament delegation will be in Moldova on November 26–29, 2010 and will observe the elections together with the observation mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and that of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The delegation also includes Monica Macovei, Elena Basescu (EPP group), Laima Liucija Andrikiene (EPP group) and Catalin Ivan (group of Socialists and Democrats).On election day the delegation members will carry out observation missions in a number of polling stations in Chisinau and other localities, and on Monday, November 29, they will participate in a joint press conference of international observers.

CEC approved the final report on revenues and expenditures of the competitors in the current electoral campaign. According to presented data, the revenues constituted 45 773 432.75 lei, and expenses — 45 716 839.86 lei, as at November 26, 2010.Several competitors have submitted financial reports and have been warned: Conservative Party, Republican People’s Party and Valentina Cusnir (independent candidate).Following the verification of reports, it was found that income and expense data correspond to those reported by banks where the accounts “Electoral Fund” of candidates were opened, except for the independent candidate. According to the report of the independent candidate Elena Burghilă-Leonte, her revenues and expenses constitute 18 752.5 lei, but according to data presented by BC Victoriabank the revenues and expenses constitute 16 747.5 lei, which determines the need for clarification. (source: CEC)

According to representatives of relevant Chisinau municipality’s division, none of political parties announced the city hall about an intention to hold post-electoral meetings or demonstrations. Under Article 10 of the Law on assemblies, the organizers are obliged to inform the local authority about the meeting 5 days before that, if the number of participants is over 50 people.

From November 1 the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM) started to implement the campaign “We Count, so We Vote”, in which citizens of 14 districts, more than 95 localities and approximately 21,000 households were informed. During the campaigns in the involved universities, about 26,000 students were directly informed in 34 hostels and 26 university blocks, and by the end of the campaign it is estimated that the total number of direct beneficiaries will exceeds 100,000 people from 16 districts and about 50 thousand students from six universities. On-line communication activities were carried out: uploading videos on various websites (youtube, play.md, maxtube); broadcasting debates with leaders of youth organisations of political parties (privesc.eu); creating a web site of the campaign( www.cntm.md/vitam ), creating the groups “We Count, so We Vote!” on several social networks, placing electronic banners on the most popular sites for youth. (source: CNTM)

Broadcasting Coordination Council (CCA) has rejected the complaint of the party “For the Nation and Country”, which demanded the punishment of Publika TV, dbecause during the debates on November 20, the leader of this party, Sergiu Mocanu, was evacuated from the TV studio.TV Publika reacted like that because Mocanu repeatedly violated the regulation on electoral debates and the moderator invited Sergiu Mocanu to leave the TV studio. (source: Publika TV)

Association of Former Deportees and Political Prisoners held a press conference where they presented arguments in favour of voting for the party “Our Moldova” Alliance in the elections of November 28. (source: privesc.eu)

Public Association of Deportees of the Republic of Moldova has announced its support for the Liberal Party led by Mihai Ghimpu the elections of November 28, 2010 and calls upon all citizens, whose parents and grandparents were deported by the totalitarian communist occupational regime and on all citizens of good faith to give their vote for the Liberal Party. Arguments in favour of PL are: revealing the historical truth; correct political-legal assessments regarding some tragic historical events; declaring the day of June 28, 1940 — the day of occupation; declassified case-files deportees, prisoners and political prisoners; advocating for the restoration of economic rights of deported people. (source: PL)

The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) declares that it possesses information that some electoral competitors are plotting to discredit the PLDM by distributing on November 27 and 28, on behalf of PLDM, electoral materials and material goods.

President of the Liberal Party (PL), Mihai Ghimpu, and president of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), Vlad Filat, held a briefings summarizing the campaign, where they appreciated a more correct character of the elections.

Chairman of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), Vladimir Voronin, issued an appeal to voters, where he reiterated its criticism regarding EIA and expressed confidence that on November 28 the voters will confirm the PCRM slogan — “Moldova chooses Victory!”. (source: PCRM)