PRESIDENT DODON CRITICIZES GOVERNMENT'S "DISCRIMINATIVE APPROACH" TO ARRANGING POLLING STATIONS ABROAD

Moldova President Igor Dodon drew the OSCE's attention to "the discriminative approach the incumbent Government of Moldova is demonstrating towards opening of polling stations in foreign countries".

Dodon wrote on his Facebook page following his Friday's meeting with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovakia's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak: "I expressed my deep concern about the unfair and overtly discriminative attitude being demonstrated by the incumbent Government of Moldova to the question of opening polling stations for Moldova citizens staying outside the republic. For an example, I referred to the situation of the hundreds of thousand Moldovans staying in the Russian Federation, for whom the Government is going to arrange merely 8 polling areas. This can be perceived as a deliberate restriction of our compatriots' voting rights".

The interlocutors exchanged opinions on a broad range of issues pertaining to the ongoing electoral process.

"I pointed out an important trait of this year's election campaign: for the first time in Moldova's history, the parliamentary election will be held on the basis of the mixed election system permitting to acquire a unique experience of campaign conductance. I stressed that provision of equal electoral conditions for all runners for parliament and for all Moldova citizens is a key condition for recognition of the elections as fair and honest by citizens as well as by our external partners and international organizations", wrote President Dodon.

He called OSCE representatives to take an active-most and broadest part in observing the electoral process in Moldova.

"I informed Mr. Lajcak that I am holding consultations concerning my direct participation in the parliamentary campaign", wrote Igor Dodon.

President Dodon stated previously that by January 25 he would have taken a decision concerning his possible participation in the parliamentary campaign as a candidate of the Party of Socialists.