ODIHR opens election observation mission in Bulgaria

SOFIA, 1 March 2023 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 2 April early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, following an invitation from the country’s authorities.

The mission is led by Tana de Zulueta and consists of a core team of 11 experts based in Sofia and 14 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 8 March.

The mission will assess whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor fundamental aspects of the elections such as voter registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. The mission will also monitor media coverage of the campaign.

ODIHR also plans to request 200 short-term observers from OSCE participating States to follow events on election day.

Meetings with representatives of relevant authorities and political parties, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation. On election day itself, the ODIHR EOM will join efforts with the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued at a press conference, and ODIHR will publish a final report summing up the observation and making recommendations for improvements some months after the end of the election process.

For further information, please visit www.osce.org/odihr/elections/bulgaria.

You can also contact Giuseppe Milazzo, Media Analyst: +359 87 698 3559, or [email protected]

or

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or [email protected].