Final June 23rd Election Report

While valuing the elections as competitive and free, the report identified a series of serious problems, among which was the disfunctional Central Election Commission, pressure on the administration and the failure to reach the 30% limit of women on the Parliament Member lists.

“The 23 June elections were competitive with active citizen participation”, was how OSCE-ODIHR called the elections.

“However, the atmosphere of distrust between the two main political forces tainted the electoral environment and challenged the administration of the entire electoral process. The Central Election Commission was not complete with the resignation of the three members and failed to implement the projects of electronic ballot count and verification”, the report said.

“The campaign environment was peaceful overall, with only a few isolated incidents of violence. Candidates actively engaged in a vibrant campaign, although the number of direct  debates between candidates or party leaders was limited. Mutual accusations between the two largest parties at times detracted from the substance of the campaign”, the report says.

Besides the election problematic, the OSCE-ODIHR also notes: “The CEC adopted a controversial decision implying a requirement for broadcasters to air tapes prepared by contestants in newscasts, impinging on editorial freedom. The public broadcaster granted larger parties equitable news coverage, but was more positive in tone towards the ruling party. The gender quota requirement for candidate lists was not met by the DP, SP and the Socialist Movement for Integration”, the report adds.

The OSCE-ODIHR has listed 29 recommendations for this final report. “Authorities and political parties could consider more resolute steps to ensure that pressure is not applied on public-sector employees, political activists or others to attend campaign events or vote in a particular way. Any such pressure should be investigated and perpetrators brought to justice in accordance with the law”, the report states.

Recommendations 18 and 19 say: “The abuse of state resources, including human resources, for campaign purposes could be more effectively prevented through improved enforcement and by holding those in violation accountable. 19. Law enforcement bodies could increase efforts of identifying, investigating and prosecuting instances of vote-buying.”

Top Channel