An initiative group of NGOs demands immediately passing the law on party funding transparency even if it’s not recommended making changes to the electoral legislation within six months before the elections. In a news conference at IPN, representatives of the NGOs said this bill is crucial for holding free and fair elections in Moldova. That’s why an exception should be made.
Secretary of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections Nicolae Panfil said the adoption of this bill will guarantee a better life in the next four years. It is important that the bill be passed in the final reading before the start of the election campaign. “We witness a multitude of activities that are political in character. But these activities will not be reported by parties if these provisions are not adopted,” he stated.
According to Nicolae Panfil, owing to this law society will find out what money is used to carry out the election campaigns and who finances the political parties. “This bill is vital for guaranteeing that all the candidates enjoy equal conditions in the election campaign,” he said.
In the same news conference, the head of the National Participation Council Sergiu Ostaf said the bill on media ownership transparency should also be adopted in the second reading as the people must know who the owners of media outlets are. “It’s important to know who has a monopoly or dominant positions in this field and who controls the mass media,” he stated.
Sergiu Ostaf noted that these aspects are very important for preventing the monopolization of the media outlets and inappropriate influence on the part of influential economic circles on the public opinion because it affects the people’s capacity to take a conscious decision.
The requests to Parliament were formulated within the campaign “Countdown to the fulfillment of the Government’s promises: Returning to the seven priorities” that was launched by the National Participation Council, the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, the Anticorruption Alliance, and the Civic Initiative for Integrity in the Public Service.
