As Romania prepares for presidential elections on Sunday, November 22, several mayors belonging to the Social Democratic (PSD), Democratic Liberal (PDL) and National Liberal (PNL) parties, who have been contacted undercover by HotNews.ro, under the claim of a party-level checks, have explained how they will they get voters moving in favour of their parties' candidates on election day. The investigation announces massive electoral tourism and votes bought with food or money.
Most of the mayors say they'd have voters mobilized by personal cars so that they not draw too much attention and demand money and resources from the party to bring as many voters to polling stations as they can.
Four PSD mayors, three from PDL and three from PNL who were contacted undercover explained in detail how they would proceed.
PSD mayor: Had there been some sort of December 1 [Romanian National Day] help. Or sent some meat. Half a pig. Or minced meat. It would be very good because we make cabbage-rolled meat. It matters if you give them something"PSD mayor: "We have prepared 20 cars, let's see how we receive the gas. We did an evaluation and I hope to get some 1,300 people moving"PDL mayor: "Put something in every councillor's pocket. That is, people come to vote but... There's a reason for the vote. So we think of 50-60 per vote"PDL mayor: "We provided stimuli. Gave them flour. That's all we had. We are a poor organisation. We have no factories. We have a slaughterhouse and he's a tight Italian who did not contribute with anything. What else should I give them?"PNL mayor: "I spoke with a councillor who would drive his personal car to fetch the people"
Considering the major public interest regarding the correctness of the electoral process on November 22, HotNews.ro applied the only method to obtain relevant information on the real ways parties use to
