OSCE/ODIHR presents recommendations from final report on early parliamentary elections in Skopje
A team of elections experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) visited Skopje from 21 to 23 June 2017 to present the final report of the ODIHR election observation mission for the 11 December 2016 early parliamentary elections.
The ODIHR experts discussed the report’s findings and recommendations with representatives of state authorities, election administration, political parties, civil society and the international community. The discussion focused on potential areas for further co-operation and specific steps that can be undertaken by various stakeholders to bring election practices into closer conformity with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards.
The report recommends, as a priority, that authorities and political parties 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. It further notes that any instances and allegations of pressure and intimidation should be thoroughly and effectively investigated and prosecuted by authorities in a timely manner.
The team also drew attention to the recommendation on maintaining the voter register, which suggests that the register be updated through a co-ordinated and sustainable effort by the institutions in charge and that the process be transparent and accessible to political parties and civil society.
"We welcome the willingness of authorities to take ODIHR recommendations into consideration to further improve the electoral legislation and process,” said Tana de Zulueta, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission. “ODIHR remains committed to continuing its support for such efforts after the scheduled municipal elections.”
A number of interlocutors that ODIHR experts met with underscored the need for observation by ODIHR of the upcoming municipal elections.
Other recommendations discussed included harmonizing the electoral legislation, reviewing all complaints and appeals by election administration in an impartial manner, free from political considerations, establishing detailed and timely mechanisms to provide effective redress for all eligible voters and candidates, as well as strengthening the editorial independence of public media outlets from political influence.
All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promptly following up on ODIHR election assessments and recommendations.