Campaign finance reform brings PMR in line with Western standards

She's not a public employee ... Election campaigns in PMR can't use any public assets or public money:Try it, and go to jail

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - While democracy is under heavy criticism by Western observers in Moldova, the conditions for free and fair elections are improving in nearby Pridnestrovie.

The unrecognized country, which is better known internationally as Transnistria or as Trans-Dniester, has reformed its elections laws to bring them into line with European standards. New, stricter rules on campaign finance and abuse of office puts tighter limits on what state employees can and can't do when running for public office.

On Wednesday, Pridnestrovie's parliament, the 43-member Supreme Council, passed a new Law on amendments and additions to the PMR Electoral Code, widening the list of activities which a public official or incumbent candidate is barred from engaging in when standing for election or re-election to public office.

Peter Pasat, a Moldovan, is a member of PMR's parliament for the pro-reform opposition party Renewal.

Article 51 of the PMR Electoral Code prohibits candidates for public office from using their office or official position for any kind of personal advantage. They are not allowed to use staff or other public workers for campaign activities, nor may they use state or municipal property for political campaigns, have state or municipal employees collect signatures in their support, or get any kind of privileged access to the media.

Court cases and complaints to parliament

According to the author of a bill on amendments to the PMR Electoral Code, Member of Parliament Peter Pasat, "numerous complaints to parliament, and a number of recent court cases, have shown that it is necessary to reform the Electoral Code."

Pasat is Vice Chairman of the legislative Committee for Economic Policy, Budget and Finance and is a member of parliament for Renewal, Pridnestrovie's largest opposition party.

" - It is conceivable that candidates use their office for personal gain," he said, referring sotto voce to Marina Smirnov, daughter-in-law of PMR President Igor Smirnov. Her husband - and the president's son - Oleg Smirnov is leader of a political party, the "Patriotic Party of Pridnestrovie", which has publicly fought with the "Renewal" party over the latter's corruption allegations.

The bill widely expands the list of punishable acts. Public servants are prohibited from using official cars and telephones, and collect signatures or other support during any official business. They are also barred from using any public funds or public infrastructure of any kind to organize political meetings or election rallies.

" - This will provide an opportunity for all the candidates to campaign under equal conditions," said Peter Pasat. An ethnic Moldovan, Pasat is part of a group of Moldovan lawmakers who support Pridnestrovie's independence and resist unification with neighboring Moldova.

" - The changes that impose discipline on candidates and deprive officials from using their office for during the campaign to financially influence the election," said Peter Denisenko, the head of PMR's Central Election Commission.

Western observers criticize Moldova election abuse

In neighboring Moldova, which held local elections this past Sunday, international observers criticized favoritism by the country's ruling Communist Party. In an official statement, elections observers from the 56 member country OSCE criticized the media for their extensive coverage of state authorities during the campaign, thereby benefiting pro-government candidates. There were numerous abuses of state perks to favor incumbent Communist candidates. Strongly criticizing this sort of favoritism, Western observers also expressed concern about cases where local authorities failed to guarantee equal conditions for all parties and candidates.

Elections in Moldova do not take place in Pridnestrovie, just as elections in Pridnestrovie also do not take place in Moldova. In practical terms, the two sides have not shared territory or government authority since the dissolution of the former Moldavian SSR, as part of the breakup of the Soviet Union.

The new reform bill has been passed by Pridnestrovie's parliament and sent to the president for signature.

See also:
» 2007 to be "year of democracy"; Pridnestrovie parliament plans reforms
» Moldova elections not free and fair, opposition protests