1. On the risks of moving to a mixed electoral system in Moldova

Majority or plurality systems in single-member constituencies can improve and further strengthen the link between citizens and their representatives; however, this is not always the case. If there is an influence of local businesspeople or other non-electoral stakeholders on their communities, this could potentially serve to negatively develop the links with or have an influence on independent majoritarian candidates more than between the local MPs and the citizens. This was, for example, the case of Ukraine. According to the first Interim Report No. 1 of the OSCE/ODIHR EOM on the 2012 parliamentary elections in Ukraine,[1] “the new mixed electoral system has changed the dynamic of these elections in comparison with the 2007 parliamentary elections, as party-nominated and independent candidates are competing strongly at the local level. A number of independent candidates are linked to wealthy businesspeople, some of whom are also supporting political parties financially.”