TrustVoting Atlas

Conditions and way of providing financial support for the work of initiative
groups and election campaigns
(1) The following sources may be used to finance the work of initiative groups and
election campaigns:
a) own financial means accumulated in the accounts of the political party at the start
of the electoral period (levies, donations, subsidies, and other statutory income);
b) donations;
c) interest-free State loans.
(2) The financing of initiative groups and election campaigns of electoral competitors
or referendum participants by natural or legal persons shall be subject to the conditions laid
down in this chapter and the regulations on the financing of initiative groups and election
campaigns, approved by the Central Electoral Commission.
(3) The responsibility for compliance with the conditions and way of providing financial
support for the work of initiative groups or election campaigns, for recordkeeping of
contributions and expenditure made, including the timely preparation and submission of
reports on the financing of the activity of initiative groups and reports on campaign financing,
in accordance with the conditions laid down in this chapter and the relevant legislative acts,
shall be incumbent upon:
a) leaders of political parties, as the case may be, other persons designated according
to their constituent acts — if they nominate candidates in elections, set up initiative groups or
register as referendum participants;
b) persons with the power of representation/governing bodies of electoral blocks,
designated according to their constituent agreements — if they nominate candidates in
elections, set up initiative groups or register as referendum participants;
c) candidates for the position of President of the Republic of Moldova;
d) independent candidates;
e) leaders of initiative groups who nominate and/or support candidates in elections or
launching a referendum;
f) persons responsible for the finances (treasuries) of initiative groups, electoral
competitors or referendum participants, confirmed under the conditions of Article 55.
(4) For infringements of the provisions of this Code and other legislative acts in the
field of financing of the activity of initiative groups and election campaigns, the subjects
referred to in paragraph (3) may be subject to legal liability, including criminal or administrative
liability in accordance with the law.
(5) The financing or material support in any form of the activity of initiative groups,
election campaigns of electoral competitors or referendum participants shall be prohibited by:
a) citizens of the Republic of Moldova under the age of 18 and citizens in respect of
whom a guardianship measure has been established;
b) natural persons who are not citizens of the Republic of Moldova;
c) anonymous persons or on behalf of third parties;
d) legal persons which, in the three years preceding the start of the electoral period,
have concluded public works, supply or service agreements within the meaning of Law No
131/2015 on public procurement or which have received State aid within the meaning of Law
No 139/2012 on State aid;
e) non-commercial and trade union organisations, associations or foundations of the
Republic of Moldova or abroad, charitable or religious organisations;
f) public authorities financed from the public budget, public authorities/institutions as
self-financing bodies, state enterprises and joint stock companies, the founders of which are
central and local public authorities, state or municipal undertakings, in accordance with Law
No nr.246/2017, or other legal persons financed from the public budget or having State capital,
except where the provision of services or material support is expressly provided for by law;
g) foreign legal persons, including foreign or joint ventures;
h) other states or international organisations, including international political
organisations.
(6) Electoral competitors, referendum participants and initiative groups shall not be
entitled to:
a) offer to voters/supporters money, goods, including foodstuffs, alcoholic beverages
and tobacco products, provide services or other benefits, including from humanitarian aid or
other charitable actions, to determine the voter/supporter to exercise or not to exercise his/her
electoral rights in elections/referenda;
b) use for private purposes the financial means entered in the ‘Electoral Fund’/‘For the
initiative group’ account;
c) use financial means other than from the account ‘Electoral Fund’/‘For the initiative
group’;
d) use undeclared financial and material funds or excess expenditure over the overall
ceiling laid down in Article 53;
e) use administrative resources, with the exception of Article 70 (6);
f) receive financial means into the ‘Electoral Fund’ account later than the day before
election day.
(7) The amounts received under paragraphs (5) and (6) shall be paid to the state
budget, under a decision of the Central Electoral Commission. The Commission with the
opinion of the Ministry of Finance shall approve the assessment methodology.
(8) The materials and objects of electoral or campaign agitation referred to in Article
181 (3) of the Criminal Code do not fall within the category of property referred to in paragraph
(6) (a).
(9) Within 5 days of the start of the electoral period, media service providers, who have
submitted statements to reflect the elections, must publish the conditions under which they
offer advertising space (including price/minute) and other services related to electoral
competitors, referendum participants or initiative groups, informing the Central Electoral
Commission and the Audiovisual Council. The Central Electoral Commission shall publish this
information on its official page. During the electoral period, media service providers are obliged
to provide the Central Electoral Commission with weekly information on the political/electoral
advertising revenues of each political party/electoral block/electoral competitor.
(10) Within 5 days of the start of the electoral period, advertisers (legal persons), which
are holders of private billboards, are obliged to publish the conditions under which they offer
advertising space and other services related to electoral competitors, referendum participants
or initiative groups, informing the Central Electoral Commission. The Central Electoral
Commission shall publish this information on its official page. During the electoral period,
advertisers (legal persons), holders of private billboards, are obliged to provide the Central
Electoral Commission with weekly information on the revenue from political/electoral
advertising of each political party/electoral block/electoral competitor.
(11) Public authorities and institutions are required to provide support to the Central
Electoral Commission and electoral constituency councils in their oversight and enforcement
of legislation on the financing of initiative groups and election campaigns of electoral
competitors/referendum participants.