Experts: Corruption in Moldovan election campaigns must be stopped
Members of the Shor Party, the only party declared unconstitutional in Moldova, will be able to register for the upcoming elections, starting today and until a final ruling is issued.
The decision by the Constitutional Court is legal and in line with the recommendations of the Council of Europe on electoral matters, experts say. However, they also warn that corruption in election campaigns must be stopped, and that authorities have an obligation to create a mechanism to monitor the process.
"The decision of the Constitutional Court is legal and legitimate, and is in line with the recommendations of the Council of Europe on electoral matters," said constitutionalist Alexandru Tănase.
"There are standards of the Council of Europe on electoral matters, which, in fact, prevent governments of member states of the Council of Europe from amending legislation at least one year before elections. We observe that these amendments were introduced in violation of these recommendations, and even during or in the process of the electoral period," Tănase said.
Tănase also believes that the Supreme Court should seek the opinion of the Venice Commission before issuing a final decision.
Although they will be able to register in the campaign, there is no certainty that members of the former Shor Party will be able to participate in the elections, as there is little time to gather the necessary package of documents by October 3, said Olesea Stamate, the chairwoman of the Parliament's legal committee.
"The legal provisions are suspended, but the Court said that on October 3 it will examine the petition on the merits and then it will rule. It is difficult for me to understand that the suspension was also requested in the previous petition and it was not accepted. Now, however, the suspension is accepted," Stamate said.
Political analyst Anatol Țăranu said that corruption in election campaigns must be stopped, and that authorities must create a system to prevent this phenomenon.
"In the context that members of this party, who are suspected and in many cases rightly so, they must be monitored and any deviation from the law, any attempt to apply the same corrupt procedures must be punished immediately," Țăranu said.
In June, the Constitutional Court declared the Shor Party unconstitutional, and Parliament subsequently passed legislative amendments that prohibit individuals from the leadership of unconstitutional parties and those who hold elected office from running for office for a term of 5 years.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
