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In the current geopolitical climate, democracies in Eastern Europe face increasing threats to democratic institutions through opaque political financing, third-party influence, and hybrid interference strategies.

Money is an essential resource for politics and voter outreach. However, if not effectively regulated, it can compromise the integrity of political processes and democracies. Effective state regulation of funding of political parties and election campaigns (commonly known as political finance) and their implementation are vital for promoting the integrity, transparency, and accountability of democratic systems of government.

On the 22nd and 23rd of November 2023, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in partnership with members of the Network for the Promotion of Constitutionalism in Eastern Europe is organizing a roundtable discussion 'Democratic Resilience: Does Institutional Design Matter?' in Yerevan, Armenia.

On the 6th and 7th of July, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), in partnership with the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) will hold a Money in Politics Regional Conference 2023"Online Campaign Finance: Challenge

Join our online roundtable that aims to contribute to a better understanding of the current and likely future effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on democracies in Armenia, Georgia and Moldova. In addition, the discussion will aim to distill recommendations on how national and international democracy assistance providers should revise their actions in response to this crisis.

International IDEA, the Center for Continuous Electoral Trainings (CICDE), the Central electoral Commission of Moldova and the National Institute of Justice organized a seminar on 'The Particularities of the Electoral Laws application in Parliamentary Elections in Moldova' on 26 November 2018.

As foreign information manipulation grows faster, cheaper, and more sophisticated, Moldova finds itself on the front line of a new kind of democratic battlefield—one where algorithms shape opinions, hidden money fuels narratives, and influence operations move seamlessly across borders and platforms.

This report analyses the enablers and incentives of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in Moldova’s electoral processes, applying a 22-factor analytical framework developed under International IDEA’s project ‘Combatting Election-related Foreign Information, Manipulation and Interference’, with support from Global Affairs Canada.

On 23 October 2025, electoral authorities, oversight bodies, civil society representatives, and digital democracy experts from the European Union and Eastern Europe gathered in Chisinau, Moldova. The regional conference, “Overseeing Digitalization in Electoral Processes: Towards Convergence Between the EU and Eastern Europe,” was hosted by International IDEA in partnership with the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova, and supported by Stiftung Mercator and the French MFA . 

On 17 October, representatives from EU Member States and Western Balkans electoral authorities, independent institutions, civil society, and media experts gathered in Tirana for the regional conference “Overseeing Digitalization in Electoral Processes: Towards Closer Convergence Between the EU and the Western Balkans.” 

Digitalization is transforming electoral processes across the European Union and its aspiring members. While it strengthens democratic participation, it also introduces risks, from opaque political financing and disinformation to foreign interference and cybersecurity threats. These challenges demand strong digital governance to keep elections free, fair and transparent within and beyond EU borders. 

The prospect of EU membership continues to drive democratic reforms in Albania, Moldova, North Macedonia and Ukraine. This report—Part 2 of a broader analysis—focuses on electoral processes and the impact of digitalization in these four candidate countries. It assesses progress in aligning with the EU acquis, particularly in areas such as data protection, cybersecurity and digital governance, while identifying persistent gaps in oversight and institutional capacity.

Desde su primera publicación en 2013, la Revista Anual sobre la Construcción Constitucional se ha convertido en una referencia global de confianza sobre la evolución de las constituciones y lo que esta evolución revela sobre la democracia, la gobernanza y el Estado de derecho en todo el mundo.

Since its first publication in 2013, the Annual Review of Constitution-Building has become a trusted global reference on how constitutions evolve, and what that evolution reveals about democracy, governance, and the rule of law around the world.

On 16 August in Chișinău, International IDEA brought together members and staff of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), chairpersons of District Electoral Councils (DECs) and representative of the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training (CICDE), for a hands-on workshop on electoral risk management. The training comes as Moldova prepares for its parliamentary elections on 28 September 2025.

On 4 April 2025, International IDEA facilitated a high-level working meeting in Chișinău between the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Ukraine and the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Moldova. The exchange was part of International IDEA’s continued support to electoral institutions in Eastern Europe, fostering dialogue, peer learning, and democratic resilience in times of significant regional challenges.

Chișinău, 1–3 April 2025 – Last week, the Central Election Commissions (CECs) of Moldova and Ukraine took important steps in advancing electoral risk management, resilience building, and crisis management processes as part of a broader effort to protect electoral integrity. In this regard, International IDEA facilitated two high-level workshops in Chișinău, supporting strategic discussions and capacity development.

There is no single model of parliamentary outreach to citizens, but there are common challenges. Sharing these experiences can generate learning, adopting innovative practices or adapting existing practices to ensure they are effective.

On November 5, 2024, International IDEA successfully hosted a one-day workshop in Brussels titled Designing a Global Methodology for Analyzing Electoral Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).