OSCE Monitors Praise Moldovan Parliamentary Elections As Transparent

Faizan Hashmi Published February 25, 2019 | 07:07 PM

The parliamentary elections in Moldova were in general organized in a transparent manner and can be assessed positively in spite of difficulties due to the introduction of the new electoral system, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) International Election Observation Mission said in a statement on Monday

CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2019) The parliamentary elections in Moldova were in general organized in a transparent manner and can be assessed positively in spite of difficulties due to the introduction of the new electoral system, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) International Election Observation Mission said in a statement on Monday.

Moldova held its general elections on Sunday. According to the interim results, Moldova's opposition Party of Socialists won with 31.35 percent of the votes. The pro-European ACUM bloc secured 26.39 percent, the ruling Democratic Party received 23.84 percent, and the conservative SOR Party got 8.39 percent. The turnout has exceeded 49 percent.

"Most aspects of the elections were administered in a professional and transparent manner. Voting was assessed positively, but the electoral bodies faced difficulties with reconciling result protocols due to the introduction of the new electoral system and the concurrent holding of the referendum," the mission said.

These were the first Moldovan elections held under the mixed electoral system, under which 50 parliamentarians are elected through proportional representation from party lists, and 51 parliamentarians are elected through first-past-the-post system in single-member Constituencies.

"The introduction of the mixed electoral system in combination with the holding of a referendum on the same day caused confusion among some voters and commission members," the commission said.

A total of 14 parties and one bloc competed for seats in the 101-member Moldovan parliament, which is elected every four years.