The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s report on the 2019 Moldovan parliamentary elections stated (para. 31): “A considerable number of the people with whom the Assembly delegation spoke criticised the criteria for the creation of polling stations in foreign countries. In its statement of 31 January 2019, the pre-electoral delegation underlined that “the Parliamentary Assembly, in its previous observation reports, expressed concern at the lack of transparency of the criteria to determine the number of polling stations abroad. For many stakeholders, these criteria should ensure the voter’s right to participate effectively in the elections.” For its part, the OSCE/ODIHR Election Report on the Moldovan Parliamentary Elections in 2019 noted: “The background for this election is that there was disaffection with public institutions and allegations of pressure on public employees, indications of vote buying and misuse of state resources. Several ODIHR Election Observation Mission interlocutors voiced concerns that the number of polling stations in certain countries was unreasonably low and did not correspond to the number of voters residing there. The lack of transparency in the decision-making process in this issue contributed to these views. It was recommended that decisions on polling stations should be taken transparently and based on clear and consistent criteria. Such decisions should be taken in broad consultation with relevant stakeholders well in advance of an election.”