Latvian parliamentary elections generally met OSCE commitments, observation mission says
RIGA, 3 October 2010 - The October 2 parliamentary elections in Latvia generally met OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections, as well as domestic legislation, observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement issued today.
"The election process provided voters with the opportunity to make a free choice among candidates presenting different political alternatives," said Nikolai Vulchanov, head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission. "The use of what appeared to be unlawful hidden advertising, however, might have improperly benefited some contenders."
Improvements have been made to most of the key election-related laws since the 2006 vote, the statement noted, but room remains to further enhance compliance with OSCE commitments on democratic elections.
Although citizenship is recognized as an admissible restriction of the right to vote and stand in elections, the fact that some 17 percent of long-term residents of voting age have no suffrage rights remains a challenge.
The Central Election Commission administered the elections in a transparent and efficient manner and operated impartially and professionally. The candidate registration process was inclusive, the campaign took place in a calm atmosphere, and contestants were generally able to campaign freely.
A broad range of media outlets, including at the local level, provided the public with diverse information and allowed voters to make an informed choice, and the right to freedom of expression was respected in the course of the elections, the statement said.
The number of formal complaints lodged with the election administration and courts was low, but the state anti-corruption bureau reported it had received a number of applications, including those related to the issue of hidden campaign advertising.
Voting in the limited number of polling stations visited by the mission proceeded in a calm manner, with election commissions performing their duties efficiently and generally following procedures.