16/05/2008 | Election observation
A 20-member delegation from the PACE, headed by Mátyás Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE), will observe the parliamentary elections in Georgia on 21 May, alongside observers from the OSCE/ODIHR, the European Parliament and the OSCE and NATO Parliamentary Assemblies. The delegation, which arrives in the country from 18 May, will meet the Chair of the Central Electoral Commission, representatives of political parties, civil society and the media, as well as domestic observers, before observing the polling and the counting of votes in a representative sample of polling stations around the country.
13/05/2008 | Election observation
The vigorously contested early parliamentary elections in Serbia were conducted in an overall professional manner, allowing the country’s voters to choose freely among a wide range of political options, the International Election Observation Mission concluded in a statement published today. The observers welcomed the active participation of voters, testifying to the electorate’s high confidence in the democratic process.
06/05/2008 | Election observation
A 29-member delegation from the PACE, headed by Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD, will observe the parliamentary elections in Serbia on 11 May, alongside observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The delegation will be in the country from 9 May and will meet the Chair of the Electoral Commission, representatives of political parties, civil society and the media and members of the diplomatic corps before observing the polling and the counting of votes in Belgrade and throughout the country.
28/04/2008 | Election observation
The democratic conduct of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia, scheduled for 21 May 2008, is crucial to restoring public confidence in the democratic process in the country, according to a four-member “pre-electoral” delegation of observers from the PACE. In a statement issued at the end of a two-day visit to the country (24-25 April 2008), the delegation welcomed the efforts by the authorities to improve the administration of the elections, but said the low level of public trust in the electoral process was a point of concern. “The democratic conduct of these elections will squarely depend on the full implementation of the electoral framework, in good faith, by all stakeholders, during all stages of the electoral process,” it said.
22/04/2008 | Election observation
A four-member delegation of the PACE, led by Mátyás Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE), will make a pre-election visit to Tbilisi from 23 to 25 April, ahead of the parliamentary elections of 21 May in Georgia. The delegation will meet the President of the Republic Mikhail Saakashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament Nino Burjanadze, the Chairman of the Supreme Court Konstantin Kublashvili, the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Levan Tarkhnishvili, as well as the Parliamentary opposition and representatives of civil society and the media.
10/04/2008 | Election observation
The accreditation of international observers for the 11 May 2008 Parliamentary elections in Serbia should not be conditional on extraneous issues, concluded the pre-electoral delegation of the PACE. Serbia should honour its commitments to international organisations of which it is a member; and should not link the accreditation of observers to the issue of Kosovo. Serbia is a full member of the Council of Europe, an organisation distinct from the European Union, and is a community upholding the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law for 800 million people.
07/04/2008 | Election observation
Nearly all aspects of Montenegro’s first post-independence presidential poll were in line with international standards for democratic elections, observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) concluded in a joint statement issued today. “This is another important step towards the citizens of Montenegro creating an established 21st century democracy,” said David Wilshire, head of the PACE delegation. “We were delighted to welcome Montenegro to the Council of Europe family of nations and are pleased to be able to help the country develop its electoral laws, procedures and practices. We wish them well.”
07/04/2008 | Election observation
A PACE delegation, led by Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD), will make a pre-election visit to Serbia from 8 to 10 April, ahead of the parliamentary elections of 11 May. The delegation will meet members of political parties not represented in Parliament, the President of the Supreme Court, the Secretary of the Electoral Commission, and representatives of civil society and the media.
03/04/2008 | Election observation
A three-member delegation from the PACE, led by David Wilshire (United Kingdom, EDG), will be in Montenegro from 3 to 7 April to observe the presidential elections, alongside observers from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR). The delegation members will meet the President of the Republic of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, the candidates standing for election, the officials responsible for organising the elections and media representatives, and will then observe the voting on 6 April at a representative sample of polling stations.
03/03/2008 | Election observation
"The result of the Presidential elections held on 2 March 2008 in the Russian Federation is a reflection of the will of an electorate whose democratic potential was, unfortunately, not tapped," concluded a 22-member delegation from the PACE headed by Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC). "In the elections, which had more the character of a plebiscite on the last eight years in this country, the people of Russia voted for the stability and continuity associated with the incumbent President and the candidate promoted by him."
22/02/2008 | Election observation
A delegation of 25 members of PACE, led by Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC), will observe the Presidential election in Russia on 2 March 2008. The parliamentarians will arrive in Moscow on Wednesday 27 February to meet the candidates standing for election, representatives of political parties and the head of the Russian parliamentary delegation to PACE.
20/02/2008 | Election observation
Yesterday’s presidential election in Armenia was conducted mostly in line with the country’s international commitments, although further improvements are necessary to address remaining challenges, international observers have said. "While we noted improvements in the framework for these elections, problems with its implementation, especially during the vote count, in some cases undermined the trust of the people," said John Prescott, head of the PACE delegation.