29/01/2025 Election observation
PACE today launched a Parliamentary Alliance for Free and Fair Elections, a ground-breaking initiative uniting some 75 Assembly members and institutional representatives to safeguard electoral integrity and strengthen democratic processes across Europe.
The Alliance was established to address growing threats to election integrity, including political instability, foreign malign interference, and vulnerabilities in digital voting systems. It aims to enhance collaboration among PACE observers, modernize election monitoring methodology, and extend the scope of its work beyond polling day to include pre-election periods, out-of-country voting, and post-election support.
Lord David Blencathra (United Kingdom, ECPA), Chairperson of the Alliance, highlighted its goals: "While PACE election observers do excellent work, we face new challenges that demand modernisation. We will examine the entire electoral process, not just polling day, and address pre-election manipulation, digital threats, and out-of-country voting. Our goal is to ensure free and fair elections that reflect today’s political realities", he emphasised.
“Moreover, we are committed to encouraging greater participation and leadership by women in our missions, extending observation to countries facing political instability, and offering more robust post-election support. Our ambition is to ensure our highly regarded observations are even better and fully equipped to address the complexities of Europe’s political landscape today," Lord David Blencathra added.
At the meeting, members set key priorities, including broadening observation scope to include countries experiencing political instability; enhancing pre-election monitoring to identify manipulation or interference; developing clear guidelines for observing out-of-country voting; strengthening expertise in electronic and digital voting systems; collaborating with experts in cybersecurity, AI, and media regulation to counter new threats; and increasing resources for observation missions to ensure high standards.
As a dynamic hub for dialogue and exchange, the Alliance will collaborate closely with international election observation partners—including OSCE/ODIHR, OSCE PA, European Parliament, and NATO PA—as well as with election management bodies, NGOs, academia, and civil society. Through dedicated seminars, cross-sector dialogue, and enhanced partnerships, the Alliance aims to safeguard electoral integrity across Europe and beyond.
