Democracy Day: Supporting Moldovan Democratic Aspirations Ahead of Elections

As former NDI Chair Madeleine K. Albright said: "Democracy has to deliver. People have to recognize that other people not only want to vote but they want to eat.” In less than two weeks, Moldovans will head to the polls to do just that – express their will and elect their next parliament to not only strengthen their democracy but to determine their economic future. 

According to NDI’s public opinion research, the majority of Moldovans believe the September 28 parliamentary elections will be the most decisive in recent history. Moldovans’ priorities for the new parliament are clear: preserve peace in the country; create jobs and economic opportunity; reduce the cost of living, including energy prices; further European integration; and continue the fight against corruption. Moldovans expect their elected officials to represent citizen interest and get the job done.

NDI has supported Moldova’s democratic aspirations since 2003. NDI supported years of robust non-partisan civic oversight of elections. NDI assisted mayors to model transparency and voter contact, eventually transforming governance in hundreds of municipalities. Complementary consultations with national leaders addressed more representative parties. A highly popular youth leadership program helped to create a new democratic political class and stem the country’s ‘brain drain.’ NDI’s support for genuine consultations with the public as legislation is developed, and professionalization of the civil service have left lasting legacies.

Building on this history, and in the lead up to the September 28 parliamentary elections, NDI has worked to support an informed public debate, bridge the gap between political parties and citizens, and reinforce Moldovans’ belief in the power of their votes to decide their future.

Over the summer, NDI trained more than 150 political party representatives from across the Moldovan political spectrum. NDI shared its research findings, emphasizing Moldovans’ concerns and their desire to hear political parties offer concrete solutions during the campaign period, not criticizing political opponents. NDI consulted political party representatives on best practices in digital and in-person citizen engagement, equipping parties with skills to more effectively reach Moldovans with their messages and proposed solutions.

In parallel, NDI is supporting local Moldovan civil society’s voter education and get-out-the-vote campaigns. NDI helped civil society partners build their campaign strategies, select citizen engagement methods, and tailor their messages to resonate with all Moldovans. Hard at work across the country, NDI’s civil society partners anticipate reaching hundreds of thousands of Moldovans by:

• Combating apathy and encouraging participation in the upcoming elections through dozens of interviews with Moldovan citizens that demonstrate the connection between individual votes and policy outcomes;

• Ensuring voters are prepared to make an informed choice at the ballot box by mapping voters priorities against party platforms through traditional (newspapers, television) and new (websites, social media) information channels; and

• Warning Moldovans about voter bribery schemes and their corrosive effect on Moldova’s democracy through interviews with experts and investigative reports.

As the world commemorates International Democracy Day and reiterates its support for democratic values, Moldovans are living these values through their participation in the electoral process. NDI is proud to walk alongside its partners and continue to support Moldovans’ democratic aspirations.