OSCE/ODIHR report concludes Italian April election consistent with democratic tradition

WARSAW, 9 June 2006 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) found that the Italian parliamentary elections held on 9 and 10 April were conducted in a manner consistent with Italy's democratic tradition, according to an assessment report released today.

The April election marked the first time the OSCE/ODIHR has been invited to observe elections in Italy, which is a welcome development in line with Italy's OSCE commitments.

The report notes that political parties expressed broad confidence in the election administration, and that the civil and political rights of voters and candidates were respected. Voters turned out in large numbers to cast their ballots, following a competitive election campaign.

There are, however, issues that OSCE/ODIHR believes could be addressed to improve the election process. The report offers some recommendations for Italian authorities, including enhancing the independence of the media and considering any future changes to election legislation in a timely manner.

The assessment was conducted by a multinational assessment team of nine election experts, who were based in Rome and travelled throughout the country during the four weeks prior to the election. The team did not do systematic observation of election day processes.

The OSCE/ODIHR stands ready to discuss its findings with the Italian authorities to further improve the election process, in line with OSCE commitments.