--- title: "Moldovans recognize electoral corruption and call for the removal of vote-buying candidates" url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/84812/moldovans-recognize-electoral-corruption-and-call-for-the-removal-of-vote-buying-candidates published: 2026-09-10T14:22:26Z language: en author: "Liubomir Guțu" section: "Justice" source: radiomoldova.md --- # Moldovans recognize electoral corruption and call for the removal of vote-buying candidates > Recent elections in the Republic of Moldova, along with journalistic investigations, have heightened voters' awareness of electoral corruption. According to a study conducted by the Partnership for Development Center, seven out of ten citizens believe that this issue is either very or fairly widespread in the country. Additionally, nearly three out of ten individuals reported experiencing attempts at electoral corruption during the last elections. ![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/cecfc065-d5dc-4ba7-8304-bf31baa0c9f3.jpg) Recent elections in the Republic of Moldova, along with journalistic investigations, have heightened voters' awareness of electoral corruption. According to a study conducted by the Partnership for Development Center, seven out of ten citizens believe that this issue is either very or fairly widespread in the country. Additionally, nearly three out of ten individuals reported experiencing attempts at electoral corruption during the last elections. The study titled “*Electoral corruption: An assumed reality? Study on perceptions and prevalence of exposure to electoral corruption in the Republic of Moldova*” reveals a strong social consensus regarding the identification of traditional forms of electoral corruption. Many respondents recognize practices that involve a direct exchange between voting and material benefits—such as offering money or gifts to voters—as acts of corruption. The perception of electoral corruption is shaped not only by individuals' direct experiences but also by the political and informational climate of recent years. Public reports on the illegal financing of political parties, allegations of vote buying, and organized transportation of voters in the most recent elections have increased the visibility of this issue in the public sphere. In the south of the Republic of Moldova, 58.6% of citizens consider electoral corruption to be widespread, while this figure rises to 79.2% in Chișinău. This difference likely reflects the distinct political and electoral contexts of the two regions. In Chișinău, political competition is more intense and polarized, and residents are more exposed to media investigations, anti-corruption discourses, and discussions regarding electoral integrity. ![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/ba56590f-7c5c-47e6-ae21-359be0cbe490.jpg) A significant majority of respondents (90.3%) believe that offering money in exchange for votes constitutes an act of corruption. This is closely followed by 87.4% of participants, who view offering gifts or goods, such as food and alcohol, in the same light. Additionally, 81.4% of those surveyed consider threats and pressure on voters corrupt practices, while 81.1% believe fictitious voter registrations in different constituencies also qualify as corruption. Interestingly, nearly half of respondents think promises to improve roads or increase pensions can also be seen as acts of corruption. ![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/cfc3beef-4c71-4786-ae1f-b5de415daa2e.jpg) According to the study, the literacy index on electoral corruption is 0.78 out of 1, indicating that the population has a high awareness of electoral corruption practices. The index shows that those with greater interest in and involvement in electoral processes, as well as residents of the Chisinau municipality, tend to score higher. Conversely, individuals who are electorally passive—meaning they have low interest and involvement in the electoral process—receive lower scores. ![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/81b40282-e890-4231-aa7d-b225a18fdc65.jpg) The study finds that about one-third of the country's population has either personally encountered or knows close relatives who were exposed to electoral corruption attempts in recent elections. Nearly 28% of the population reports attempts to influence the vote, either personally or within their close circle of relatives and acquaintances. Additionally, 7.9% of respondents state that they have been directly offered money, goods, or favors, while 24.9% are aware of similar cases among their relatives. The authors point out the significant difference between direct and indirect experiences and emphasize its importance as a warning signal. This phenomenon is fueled by information circulating through social media and tight-knit community networks, where individuals learn about such situations even if they are reluctant to discuss their own experiences. The most frequently reported forms of electoral corruption include offers of money (2.7%) and goods, such as food or alcohol (2.3%). Furthermore, 2.3% of respondents report being threatened with job loss, while 1.3% report threats of criminal prosecution. Political party representatives are identified most often as the initiators of these actions (33.6%), followed by individuals from the community (16.4%). Respondents almost unanimously believe that individuals or candidates who offer money to voters should be disqualified from participating in elections. This suggests that citizens feel those who make such offers should be held accountable. Additionally, over 80% of those interviewed state that voters who accept money in exchange for their votes should face significant fines. This indicates a belief in shared responsibility between both those who offer bribes and those who accept them. In contrast, support for custodial sentences is lower, with fewer than half of respondents advocating prison time for those involved in electoral bribery. ![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/b9ca388e-4681-4a24-9770-c7935723bd42.jpg) The data indicates that women, individuals from rural areas, those with low levels of education, and people with low incomes are more frequently exposed to attempts at electoral corruption. For instance, the direct exposure rate to electoral corruption is 12.2% among individuals with low education levels, compared to 6.5% for those with higher education. Additionally, people with low incomes are more likely to accept corruption, with an acceptance rate of 11.7%, while those with relatively high incomes have a rate of 5%. When it comes to trust in the institutions overseeing electoral processes, local public administration and electoral observers show the highest levels of trust, at 59.8% and 58.4%, respectively. Most respondents (70%) reported that they would inform authorities about attempts at electoral corruption. The primary reasons given for those who would not report include a lack of trust in authorities (40.1%), the perception that reporting is unimportant (26.2%), and fear of potential consequences (19.8%). At the same time, 26.5% of respondents said they do not know of any channels for reporting electoral corruption. This study is based on a survey conducted by CBS Research between April 14-26, 2026, involving a sample of 1,101 individuals, excluding the region on the left bank of the Nistru, with a maximum margin of error of ±3%. Furthermore, tens of thousands of citizens in the Republic of Moldova have been fined for electoral corruption, either for offering or accepting money to vote a certain way during the 2024 and 2025 elections. Authorities reported that a criminal group led by the convicted Ilan Shor, which operated in the interests of the Russian Federation, was behind the vote-buying scheme.