This document outlines the agenda for a conference on electoral reform in Moldova held on April 8th. The conference included 3 panels over the course of the day discussing the state of Moldova's electoral system, benefits and threats of changing the system, and democratic narratives for Moldova's European path. Panelists included political party leaders and experts who debated topics such as the effects of changing the electoral system, international practices with majoritarian systems, and improving the existing proportional system. The goal was to have an open political debate between parties on preferences for electoral reform and whether consensus could be reached.

1. Radisson Blu LeoGrand Hotel Chisinau
Răut Conference Room
Saturday, April 8th
, Chisinau
12:00-12:15 Registration of participants and welcome coffee
12:15-12:30 OPENING REMARKS
Dr. MARTIN SIEG, Head of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Offices in Romania and
Republic of Moldova
ANA MIHAILOV, Programme coordinator, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Moldova
ULRIKE KNOTZ, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of
Moldova
12:30-13:00 THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM OF MOLDOVA: STATE OF PLAY
Moderator: VASILE BOTNARU, Director, Radio Free Europe, Moldova Office
ANDRIAN CANDU, Vice-Chairman, Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM)
ANDREI NĂSTASE, Chairperson of the Truth and Dignity Platform Party (PPDA)
Discussion (10 min)
13:00-14:30 PANEL I. CHANGE OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM - BENEFITS AND THREATS
Moderator: Dr. IGOR MUNTEANU, Executive Director, IDIS Viitorul
SERGIU SÎRBU, Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM)
IGOR BOȚAN, Executive Director, ADEPT
ARMAND GOȘU, Political Analyst, University of Bucharest
SORIN IONIȚĂ, Expert Forum, Bucharest
OLEKSII LYCHKOVAKH, Election Adviser, OSCE/ODIHR
Discussion (40 min)
Key questions:
§ What could be the effects of the electoral system’s change on the party system,
governmental effectiveness and stability?
§ Should the problems faced by the Republic of Moldova - unresolved Transnistrian
issue, unreformed territorial-administrative division of the country, and the
massive emigration of the population (about 1/3 of citizens with the right to vote)-
be taken into account while changing the electoral system?

2. 2
14:30-15:00 Coffee break
15:00-16:30 PANEL II. INSISTING ON DEMOCRATIC NARRATIVES FOR MOLDOVA ON ITS
EUROPEAN PATH
Moderator: Liliana BARBAROȘIE, Radio Free Europe
ION TABÎRȚĂ, Expert, IDIS Viitorul
TUDOR DELIU, Vice-president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM)
IURIE CIOCAN, Expert in electoral issues, Ex-Chairman of the Central Electoral
Commission
SIEGFRIED MUREȘAN, Spokesperson of the EPP, Member of the European
Parliament
CORNEL CIUREA, Political analyst
Discussion (40 min)
Key questions:
§ Is the proposed draft law on the majoritarian electoral system (FPTP) providing
for the citizens’ right to recall MPs in conformity with the constitutional provisions
and the concept of representative mandate? What is the international practice in
this area?
§ What is the experience of the majoritarian electoral system in the post-communist
countries and ex-soviet republics – Romania, Ukraine, and Georgia?
§ How can the proposed majoritarian electoral system (FPTP) impact the citizens’
representation?
§ What could be the impact of the majoritarian system (FPTP) on turnout,
representation of minorities, gender balance, emergent political currents etc.?
§ How could the change of electoral system impact the right to active and passive
vote of Moldovan citizens in Transnistria (about 300 thousands) and of the
Moldovan diaspora (about one million)?
16:30-17:00 Coffee break
17:00-18:30 PANEL III. POLITICAL DEBATE
Moderator: Vasile BOTNARU, Director, Radio Free Europe, Moldova Office
MAIA SANDU, Chairperson of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS)
VASILE BOLEA, Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM)
VLADIMIR CEBOTARI, Member of Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM)
MICHAEL GAHLER, Member or the European Parliament
MARKUS MECKEL, Ex-member of German Bundestag
Discussion (40 minutes)

3. 3
Key questions:
§ What are the main benefits of the proposed majoritarian electoral system as seen
by the political parties and what are the political parties’ concerns with regard to
it?
§ Could the proposed majoritarian system raise the integrity of the electoral process
or on the contrary, undermine it?
§ What is preferable: to change the existing electoral system or to improve it?
§ How concretely could the proposed majoritarian system be improved, if that was
the case?
§ How concretely could the existing proportional system be improved, if that was
the case?
§ Can a consensus on the change of electoral system among political parties be
reached?
18:30-19:00 Closing Remarks
IGOR BOȚAN, Executive Director, ADEPT
Dr. IGOR MUNTEANU, Executive Director, IDIS Viitorul
19:00 Networking & dinner