Recent statements and testimonies presented in the media show that the Romanian Foreign Ministry has refused to organize polling stations abroad though having had the local authorities’ approval.
Foreign Minister Teodor Mele?canu on Tuesday said that he has showed up to the Central Electoral Office (BEC) with all the “possible projects”, including one regarding money allotment, stating, nevertheless, that theoretically it is possible to organize new polling stations, if permitted by law. Mele?canu also said, on his way out of BEC that provided the current legislation it is not possible the organization of new polling stations abroad in the run-off.
“Provided the current legislation, this is not possible. If exceptions are to be made, if some ways to change the law are to be found, then we can talk. If not, we will focus on measures for streamlining the vote and there will be series of measures that we will present you on this topic related to a better organization, involvement of colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the involvement of people in Diaspora, the involvement of political parties within the polling stations, which are set to ensure a swift process, but in legal terms with the election process,” said Mele?canu after meeting the BEC representatives.
He also said that on Tuesday he will submit to BEC, in written, the MAE proposals regarding the organization of the elections abroad.
“We have presented a series of proposals and measures which, in our opinion, may allow a streamline of the future elections, runoff, so as to ensure the right of all Romanians to vote abroad. After this presentation, BEC requested that all proposals we have made to be drafted as a written document, which we will send later today and on which BEC will be expressing views about what we can do and what we cannot do,” Mele?canu explained.
After drafting the document, MAE will present it in a press conference, concluded Mele?canu. Asked if at the moment it is not “clear” if new polling stations can be organized, Mele?canu replied: “It is very clear that this is not clear yet.”
The new minister of Foreign Affairs said that there are currently requirements from the embassies for 25 new polling stations. On the other hand, Melescanu said he would vote in Paris in the runoff, while MFA state secretaries would go to Wienna, Kishinev and Munich.
Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said late on Tuesday evening that he requested BEC a “legal basis” for setting up new polling stations in Diaspora and permission to change the address of various polling stations, saying that “good organization” could lead to a total of 350.000 voters in the runoff.
At the same time, BEC maintains its position expressed to the former FM Titus Corlatean, which stated that it is possible the setting up of additional polling stations in Diaspora, through order from the Minister, BEC’s specifications coming as a consequence to a note addressed by Melescanu, the new head of diplomacy.
On the other hand, students will have two days off on Friday, November 14, and Monday, November 17, under a decision approved on Tuesday by the Government, so that those who want to vote in their home localities on Sunday should not be prevented by university courses. On this matter, ACL first vice-president Catalin Predoiu said on Tuesday that Victor Ponta is commiting an abuse of office by allowing students the long weekend off during the runoff, showing that the Prime Minister does not want to give them three days off, but to “have them separated and not in groups”.
Offer for new polling stations in two towns in Spain denied
According to Digi 24, MAE refused to organize polling stations in at least two towns in Spain where important Romanian communities are living. Thus, the TV channel has received a copy of the request also sent to Bucharest from the Romanian Association in Girona, Catalonia. People have called for the organization of a polling station in the town, as happened in previous elections, but they haven’t received any response. In another town, near Madrid, the mayor, Pedro Rollan Ojeda, told Digi24 that the notifications he has sent to the Romanian authorities, proposing them to provide the space for the organization of polling stations, received negative responses.
In this town, namely Torrejon de Ardoz, with 100.000 inhabitants, about 10 per cent of the population is formed of Romanians. Just one single polling station has been set up for the previous ballots in this town.
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