Moldovan Morass

On April 5 th, Moldova held parliamentary elections. Since 2001, Moldova has been the only country in Europe governed by a communist party. The spring contest was important because Moldova’s parliament elects the president and the leader of the Communist Party, Vladimir Voronin, was completing his final term in office. Hit hard by the financial crisis and caught between east and west, Moldova’s democratic transition and European integration were at stake. NED has traditionally expanded its work in Moldova in election years due to the country’s history of problematic contests.

To support nonpartisan citizen education, voter mobilization and election monitoring programs, NED assisted the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections – “Coalition 2009,” which is made up of over 70 Moldovan NGOs. With NED support, the Association of Independent Press published eight issues of an educational supplement on elections, Obiectiv, that appeared monthly in 17 newspapers with a total press run of 70,000 copies. The Association for Participatory Democracy - ADEPT set up an election website and produced “how to” posters for every polling station in the country (see picture). The CONTACT Center and National Youth Council of Moldova conducted a GOTV program that reached all 32 districts in Moldova, including 320 villages and 23 educational institutions. The “VoTARE” (Vote Strong!) program distributed more than 100,000 nonpartisan GOTV materials (see picture below). The League for Defense of Human Rights of Moldova – LADOM monitored over 1,800 polling stations around the country.

These programs proved prescient and timely, because the elections ended up being contested. While the Communist Party claimed to have won almost 50 percent of the vote, international observers reported shortcomings and Coalition 2009 assessed the elections to be only “partially free” and “unfair.” Rodger Potocki, NED’s Director for Europe and Eurasia, was in Moldova for the elections and wrote an article on the problematic contests. Reacting to the flawed process, young Moldovans utilized text messaging, Facebook and other “new media” to organize a candlelight vigil mourning the country’s decline of democracy (picture by NED Assistant Program Officer Bobbie Traut, who was also in Moldova to monitor the elections). This “flash mob” turned into a “Twitter Revolution” as tens of thousands of Moldovans took to the streets. While most protested peacefully, the Presidential Building was ransacked and Parliament burned. During the ensuing government crackdown, hundreds were arrested, scores beaten and some killed. Coalition 2009 denounced both the vandalism of and violence against protesters, while domestic and international organizations condemned the government’s heavy-handed repression.

To shed light on these developments, NED held an event in Washington – “Mourning or Morning in Moldova? The April Election and its Aftermath.” Co-sponsored by the Eurasia and Moldova Foundations, the event featured Dorin Chirtoaca, Mayor of Chisinau; Andrei Brighidin, representing Coalition 2009; and Mihaela Copot, a human rights activist. More than 90 participants heard about the disputed election process, civil society’s efforts to foster free and fair elections, the difficult human rights situation, and on-going political deadlock in one of Europe’s most isolated countries.

Differing interpretations of the election’s outcome, demonstrations and crackdown have polarized the country, sparking a domestic and European crisis. Several attempts by a truncated parliament boycotted by the opposition failed to elect a new president. As a result, early elections have been called for July 29 th. To help foster a better election process the second time around, NED moved quickly to approve four new grants and supplements at its June 19, 2009 board meeting. The projects will allow Coalition 2009 members to continue educating citizens through a nonpartisan election website, 2,500 “how to” voting posters, and 20 public debates; mobilizing voters through 30 local GOTV programs; and monitoring the broadcast media’s coverage of the campaigns, as well as the voting process at more than 250 polling stations throughout the country, including in the Moldova-Transnistria security zone.