June 7, 2021, Chișinău - According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, it has taken note of the decision of the Central Electoral Commission on the organization of the 139 polling stations in the country for the early parliamentary election of July 11, 2021, and according to the tasks it will take appropriate measures, in order to ensure the constitutional right to vote in safe conditions, in compliance with the health and public policy in the countries of their residence.
Echoing the position of the principal institutions of the diplomatic service related to the refraining from commenting on the political statements, for a correct process of informing the public, and as a result of many requests received by the the Foreign Ministry and the diplomatic missions and consular posts in the institutions from the national media, and representatives of the diaspora and international organizations, ensuring the monitoring of the organisation of voting abroad, the Press Office issued the following clarification.
The initial proposal of May 25, 2021 for the organization of the 191 polling stations abroad is the result of the consultation by the embassies of the Republic of Moldova with the communities of citizens from outside the country, as well as discussions with representatives of civil society. In addition, in the spirit of art. 31 par. (3) of the Electoral Code, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on June 4, favorably examined the proposal submitted on the same day by the Central Electoral Commission on the establishment of 162 polling stations.
Within the framework of the prior opinion, the Ministry informed the electoral authority that all diplomatic missions have notified in a timely manner the authorities of the accreditation states about the organization of early parliamentary elections of July 11, 2021 and the intention to open polling stations on their territory.
From a logistical point of view, the capabilities of the diplomatic service, for the designation of the chairs in the offices of polling stations abroad, constitute 186 officials accredited to other countries (including diplomats, specialists and representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, the Information and Security Service, the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Customs Bureau), and 60 officials of the central apparatus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It should be noted that during the last elections, some 113 diplomatic service officials and, for the first time, 26 electoral officials from the diaspora participated as presidents of the polling stations.
Thus, the ministry took note of the list proposed by the Central Electoral Commission on the establishment of 162 polling stations and confirmed that it has the necessary logistical capacities to organize early parliamentary elections, including, according to the initial proposals submitted on May 25, 2021, that is 191 polling stations. The decision adopted at the extraordinary meeting of 5 June by the Central Electoral Commission on the establishment of 139 polling stations abroad was not approved in advance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European integration.
Finally, we invite diaspora representatives abroad who have shown interest in providing assistance to embassies and authorities in the countries where approved polling stations will be established, to become volunteers and to help in the organized management of voter flows. Interested persons are to send an email of intent to the address of the diplomatic mission in the country of residence. The list of Embassies of the Republic of Moldova abroad and contact details can be consulted in the section "Diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Moldova" on the MFAIE website.
