OSCE/ODIHR opens election observation mission for early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria
SOFIA, 16 April 2013 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission to monitor the 12 May early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria.
ODIHR was invited by Bulgaria’s government to observe the elections, in line with the country’s commitments as an OSCE participating State.
The mission is headed by Miklós Haraszti and consists of ten international experts based in Sofia and 12 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country. The experts and observers are drawn from 19 countries.
The mission will assess the early parliamentary elections for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with domestic legislation. Observers will follow campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legislative framework, and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.
In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives from relevant authorities and political parties, as well as with candidates, and with representatives from civil society, the media and the international community. On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results at all levels.
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.
For further information please see //www.osce.org/odihr/elections/100376 or contact Giovanna Maiola, Media Analyst, ODIHR Election Observation Mission on on +359 89 032 42 37, or at Giovanna.Maiola@odihr.bg or Thomas Rymer, ODIHR Spokesperson, on + 48 609 522 266 or thomas.rymer@odihr.pl