OSCE Mission to Moldova and partners discuss new draft media regulations during elections

CHIŞINĂU, 6 December 2011 – Draft regulations on the legal framework governing election coverage and political campaigning in the media during the election period were presented today at a roundtable meeting in Chişinău held by the OSCE Mission to Moldova and the non-governmental Association for Participatory Democracy.

The regulations were developed under an OSCE-led project with local experts devoted to simplifying and unifying election legislation and procedure, in alignment with the recommendations of the Election Observation Mission of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

“During recent election cycles it was observed that different media regulations for each election campaign can complicate the election environment,” said Jan Plešinger, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. “Permanent regulations on media coverage and campaigning at the national level can bring more clarity and predictability for all stakeholders.”

“The new regulations are applicable for all types of elections, including parliamentary and municipal elections as well as referenda. They define the principles of election campaigns in the media as well as the competencies of the Central Election Commission and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual with regard to regulating media campaigns and coverage. Such clarity was missing in the past,” said Igor Boţan, the Executive Director of the Association for Participatory Democracy.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Central Election Commission, political parties, media, civil society and the international community.