Moldovan MPs vote for harsher penalties for electoral corruption, Illegal political parties' financing

The penalties for electoral corruption and illegal party financing have been toughened. The parliament today adopted a draft law to this end in the second reading, with the votes 54 MPs.

Thus, offering money, goods, services or other benefits with the purpose of determining voters to exercise or not exercise their electoral rights during elections will be punished with imprisonment from 2 to 6 years, a fine from 37,500 lei to 57,500 lei, and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or carry out certain activities for up to five years. In the case of legal entities, the fine will reach up to 400,000 lei, with deprivation of the right to carry out a certain activity or dissolution of the legal entity.

The amendments also refer to cases where actions are committed for the benefit of an organized crime ring. Such cases will be punished by imprisonment from 7 to 15 years, a fine of up to 117,500 lei and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or carry out certain activities for a term of 5 to 10 years. In the case of legal entities, the fine will reach up to 1 million lei, with deprivation of the right to carry out a certain activity or with its dissolution.

The draft also provides for harsher penalties for illegal financing of political parties, initiative groups, electoral competitors, or participants in referendum. More specifically, individuals who conduct actions in the interest of an organized crime ring face imprisonment from 7 to 15 years, with a fine ranging from 92,500 lei to 117,500 lei and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or carry out certain activities for a term of 5 to 10 years.

Also, falsifying voting results will be more severely sanctioned. Thus, guilty parties risk imprisonment from 3 to 7 years, a fine of up to 117,500 lei, and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or carry out certain activities for a term of 2 to 7 years.

At the same time, under the new provisions, for repeated infringements in the financial and electoral sector, the Central Electoral Commission may deprive political parties of allocations from the state budget for the political performances achieved in electtions for a period ranging from 6 months to 4 years.