OSCE/ODIHR opens limited observation mission for Latvian early parliamentary elections

RIGA, 26 August 2011 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights today opened a limited election observation mission to monitor the 17 September early parliamentary elections in Latvia.

The mission, headed by Konrad Olszewski, deployed following an invitation from the Latvian authorities. It comprises nine experts, who will be based in Riga, and six long-term observers, who will be deployed to different regions of the country.

The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will follow the entire election process, including the legal framework and its implementation, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of its observation, the mission will conduct a comprehensive monitoring of the media.

In line with ODIHR’s methodology for limited election observation missions, the mission will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation on election day. Mission members will, however, visit a small number of polling stations across the country to follow election day procedures.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.