Moldovan Central Electoral Commission warns: public institutions cannot financially support political parties outside electoral campaigns

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) warns central and local public authorities, state institutions and other entities funded from the public budget that direct or indirect financial support to political parties is strictly prohibited outside the electoral period.

The warning comes in the context of analyzing the financial reports of parties for the first half of 2025, which revealed cases of donations in the form of free services provided by public institutions, recorded in accounting at market value - actions contrary to the Law on Political Parties.

According to the CEC, the law explicitly prohibits funding, providing free services or any other form of material support from public entities, except for situations clearly regulated by legislation. The infringements identified by the Commission, with the support of competent bodies, may lead to the confiscation of the involved amounts and their transfer to the state budget.

The Commission has informed the General Police Inspectorate (IGP) and the State Chancellery about these irregularities and reminds that local public authorities are required to establish special places for posters and spaces for electoral meetings not later than three days before the starting of the electoral campaign.

The electoral campaign for the parliamentary elections scheduled for the next autumn will take place between August 29 and September 27, 2025. A limited logistic support for electoral contenders is allowed only during this period and only through administrative acts issued under Electoral Code No. 325/2022.

The CEC also highlights that illegal funding of parties, initiative groups or participants in referendums by legal entities represents an offense and is sanctioned with fines ranging from 240 to 600 conventional units for legal entities, and between 180 and 300 conventional units for responsible officials.