THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND THE IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF THE POLITICAL CLASS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Abstract

The article analyses the electoral system and its impact on the quality of the political class in the Republic of Moldova. The authors point out the opinions of experts (political scientists, lawyers, representatives of the central and local public administration, political analysts) on the functioning of the electoral system, the issues that need to be resolved. The article analyses the vulnerabilities of the electoral system in the Republic of Moldova which, in consequence, does not provide all political actors with equal chances to join the legislative forum. From the point of view of experts, the electoral system, both the previous one and the more recently adopted, favours large parties, that have already been in government for several years and that have financial and considerable administrative resources, also media, which has a substantial impact on the perception of the political class and plays an important role in promoting the image of the party leaders and political parties. Thus, every second expert believes that the current electoral system allows the monopolization of political power by a handful of politicians and political parties. For these reasons experts calls for the real independence of the institutions of law, the elimination from the election campaign of parties suspected of corruption, tightening controls of the civil society on the political class, the development and introduction of a clear mechanism of effectively revoking the deputy, active involvement of youth in political activity, other measures that would contribute to resetting the current political class, to improve the electoral process.

Keywords

• electoral system
• political actors
• election process
• civil society
• political class