Several NGOs, public policy and public governance think-tank Expert Forum included, called on Friday on the presidential candidates and their fan bases to refrain from unfounded accusations, aggressive rhetoric, discrimination, threats against the other camp, and any kind of provocative agitation, so as not to further inflame public opinion.

'The stakes of this presidential election are very high. The campaign has deepened social divisions and dissatisfactions, and polarized public opinion. After Sunday's vote, next week we will have to continue to live together, regardless of our opinion differences, to listen to and understand each other and find explanations for how we got here. We are therefore calling on the candidates and their supporters to show calm and responsibility both on the voting day and after the announcement of the results,' Expert Forum says in a press release, arguing that calm and responsibility are essential to restoring both the trust of Romanians in democracy, and that of the foreign partners in Romania's capacity to remain a democratic, solid and credible state, amid a troubled geopolitical context.

The NGOs that sign the statement emphasize that it is essential that the Romanian voters have confidence in the fairness and integrity of the electoral process, and that 'It is paramount that public authorities do not tolerate abuses and irregularities, ensure the prompt and correct enforcement of the law, but also show a more transparent attitude, and communicate more promptly and empathetically with the citizens than they have done in the past.'

The Vot Corect Coalition is monitoring the entire electoral process with 1,300 observers, and will report any irregularities found during the three days of voting. Also, on Monday, from 1:00 p.m., it will release an assessment report on the second election round. 'We ask the candidates and their supporters to accept the election result with fair play, regardless what this will be,' the NGO representatives add.

The signatories of the statement are: Expert Forum, Radautiul Civic, the Civic Association, the Civic Resources Center, the Center for the Study of Democracy, Code for Romania, FILIA Center, Politica la minut (Center for Democracy and Good Governance), CeRe: Center for Public Participation Resources, the Romanian Center for European Policies, ApTI - Association for Technology and Internet, ActiveWatch. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dana Piciu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)