PN MP Chris Said will be leading a Council of Europe delegation to Moldova later this month to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country, a statement by the Nationalist Party read.

"His appointment to head the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's delegation to Moldova, at such a delicate moment for the country, is an honour for Malta, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers."

"Apart from reflecting confidence in Chris Said's competence and integrity as a Maltese Member of Parliament, this appointment also underscores the Nationalist Opposition's commitment to democracy and the safeguarding of the rule of law."

The parliamentary elections in Moldova will take place on 28 September. Chris Said will be leading a delegation which includes representatives from San Marino, the Slovak Republic, and Switzerland, the PN said.

"The mission will visit Moldova between Tuesday and Thursday, based in the capital Chisinau, where they will hold a number of meetings related to the electoral process. The delegation will then return to Moldova during election week to observe the voting and the announcement of the results."

The pre-electoral mission will also include official meetings with Moldova's President Maia Sandu, Speaker of Parliament Igor Grosu, the Electoral Commission, as well as various ministers and state institutions.

During this week, the delegation will be assessing election preparations from different angles, including candidate registration, media access, and campaign conditions. Meetings will also take place with the OSCE Mission in Moldova and several NGOs.

Later, during election week, the delegation led by Chris Said will observe the conditions on polling day and during the vote-counting process to ensure that the elections are conducted fairly, the PN said. The delegation will subsequently draw up a report on the credibility of the entire parliamentary election process in Moldova.

"The presence of international observers, including from the Council of Europe, as Moldova elects a new parliament, sends a strong signal in favour of a transparent, secure, and European-standard electoral process."

The PN statement was signed by Beppe Galea, PN International Secretary and Beppe Fenech Adami, Shadow Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, and Trade