2008 News Archive

Ambassador Discusses U.S. Elections at ULIM

February 26, 2008

Ambassador Kirby speaks at ULIM about the specifics of U.S. elections processes

Ambassador Michael Kirby spoke extensively about the U.S. election system and the current presidential campaign in front of students and faculty members from the Free International University of Moldova. During the speech, he noted that the Electoral College, as well as the two-party system and party primaries, were among the features that make U.S. elections unique. However, he stressed that regardless of the particularities of each country's elections system, open access to information, active citizen participation, and free and fair elections make a society genuinely democratic.

In response to questions from the students, Ambassador Kirby described how the candidates for nomination on behalf of the Democratic and Republican Parties approach various issues and appeal to different categories of voters, and discussed U.S. policies in the region.

The full text of the speech is posted here.