Observers from the public organization Promo-LEX recommend that Maia Sandu refrain from participating in public events during the election campaign that started in Moldova today, September 20. They point out that the incumbent should minimize the use of administrative resources.
Moldova’s Constitutional Court has previously stressed that the president must be apolitical, and the nomination of Maia Sandu of the ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) has raised questions about her neutrality. Several opposition parties even demanded that the Central Election Commission deregister her initiative group.
“Given the impossibility of removing the incumbent president during the electoral campaign, the Promo-LEX observation mission recommends that the president refrain from participating in official public events that could be perceived as electoral activities and limit as far as possible the use of administrative powers and resources during the electoral campaign,” – the organization said in a statement.
Sandu previously said she would not use her official car for campaign activities and that members of her team with government posts would be released during the campaign. She herself does not plan to stop working, but will go on vacation only if the performance of her official duties overlaps with election activities. She will most likely not take part in election debates either.
Let us recall that the presidential elections in Moldova will take place on 20 October. They will be held on the same day as the constitutional referendum on European integration.
This week, missions from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) arrived in Chisinau. They will assess the conduct of elections and referendums in accordance with international obligations and standards, as well as national legislation.
