You're reading: Moldova launches parliamentary election campaign

Chisinau - The parliamentary election campaign has officially started in Moldova. The election is set for November 30. Pursuant to law, the election campaign lasts for 60 days.

“Starting with Friday, Oct. 3 the Central Election Commission (CEC) will be accepting documents for the registration of future election contenders. CEC must make a decision on every contender within five days of the submission documents that will be accepted until Oct. 30,” CEC Chairman Iurie Ciocan said to Interfax on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

He said any citizen of Moldova aged 18 or over not restricted in his/her civil rights by a court judgment can take part in the election.

He said that under the law all parties, the registration of which was confirmed to CEC as of Sept. 15, can take part in the election.

Moldova currently has 41 registered parties. About half of them are expected to take part in the election. According to polls, no more than four or five are capable of clearing the election barrier.

“For independent candidates the threshold is 2 percent of valid cast ballots. For parties it is 6 percent, for alliances of two parties – 9 percent, for blocs of three and more parties – 11 percent,” Ciocan said.

He said that during the upcoming election Moldova will apply an electronic register of voters for the first time.

He said that Moldova has some 2.7 million registered voters, not counting those permanently living in Transdniestria.

“Some 100 electoral districts have been established abroad. It is our objective to create all conditions for participation in the elections. In the previous parliamentary election 65,000 people voted abroad. We don’t think the figure will be smaller this time,” the official said.