Ramona Strugariu, co-chair of Renewing Romania’s European Project (REPER) party, is urging the parties forming the new parliamentary majority to urgently request international monitoring of the presidential elections by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

In the context of negotiations for the formation of the new government, Ramona Strugariu is making a public appeal to those who will assume leadership of the country and is requesting that steps be taken to initiate the process for international observation and monitoring of the presidential elections by ODIHR/OSCE.

„We have a sitting prime minister who will also be part of the future government. This time, there is enough time to request and prepare this mission. The government officials can make this decision together, right now, during the negotiations. This is the time to show that they care about the transparency of the electoral process and the credibility of state institutions, which have a lot to recover in this regard. If no one has anything to hide, now is the time to prove it,” Ramona Strugariu is quoted as saying in a press release.

According to her, a similar initiative was launched by Maia Sandu in Moldova for the presidential elections and referendum, in a similar context of hybrid war and interference from Russia, and it is not only timely but mandatory.

The REPER party began discussions and meetings with ODIHR/OSCE representatives as early as spring, in anticipation of the combined elections in June. These did not materialise due to the electoral calendar and the absence of an official request from Romania, the press release notes.

AGERPRES