CEC: Today - last day of electoral campaigning before new local elections and referendums of 17 May

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has announced that Friday, 15 May, is the last day on which electoral campaigning is allowed for the new local elections and local referendums scheduled for Sunday, 17 May, in several localities across the Republic of Moldova.

According to the provisions of the Electoral Code, electoral campaigning will be prohibited both on election day and on the preceding day. During this period, candidates will not be allowed to participate in television or radio programmes of an electoral nature.

The institution noted that local public administration authorities and advertising distributors are obliged to remove electoral advertising materials placed in authorised spaces. However, the ban does not apply to information already published on the internet.

At the same time, electoral competitors may no longer make financial transfers to or from accounts marked “Electoral fund”.

The CEC warns that failure to comply with the ban on electoral campaigning constitutes an administrative offence. According to Article 52 of the Contravention Code, natural persons risk fines between 40 and 60 conventional units, while legal entities risk fines between 100 and 150 conventional units.

New local elections will be held on Sunday in several localities, including the village of Costești and the commune of Ruseștii Noi in Ialoveni district, the village of Mașcăuți, Criuleni district, the commune of Sărătenii Vechi, Telenești district, the town of Taraclia, Taraclia district, the municipality of Orhei, Orhei district, the village of Topala, Cimișlia district, the village of Copceac, Gagauzia (UTA Gagauzia), the village of Plop, Dondușeni district, and the commune of Frumușica, Florești district.

On the same day, two local referendums on the recall of mayors will be held in the village of Hăsnășenii Mari, Drochia district, and the commune of Sadîc, Cantemir district.