Moldova election begins calmly, officials report
Moldova's national election began on Sunday morning and is proceeding without incident, authorities say.
The announcement was made by Angelica Caraman, president of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), at an 8:00 AM press conference.
"The process is proceeding without incident after the first hour of voting. We urge all citizens and candidates to respect the electoral rules and maintain order on this decisive day," Ms Caraman said.
All polling stations opened nationwide at 7:00 AM, she added. About 24,000 election officials are involved. "We have implemented all necessary measures to ensure the process takes place in conditions of fairness, security, and transparency, from technical logistics and the training of polling staff to the strict monitoring of every stage," the CEC president said.
The first polling station abroad opened at 7:00 AM local time in Japan, where the first voter of the day was registered, Ms Caraman noted. Mail-in voting has already concluded, with 2,055 envelopes received by responsible offices, mostly in Washington and Ottawa.
"We remind the public that violating the secrecy of the vote is a criminal offence. It is forbidden to photograph the ballot, distribute it on social media, remove or damage it, or steal the stamp or campaign on election day," she warned.
Around 3,500 national and international observers are monitoring the vote. "Their presence guarantees compliance with legal norms and democratic standards. We thank them for their involvement, just as we thank the media for objectively covering the process," the CEC head added.
The CEC's next briefing is scheduled for 12:00 PM (noon), when updated information on voter turnout and the voting process will be presented.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
