Serbian elections well organized but changes to election law long overdue
(OSCE/Urdur Gunnarsdottir)Voting in Zemun, a Belgrade suburb, went smoothly during the 28 December 2003 Serbian parliamentary elections. (OSCE/Urdur Gunnarsdottir) Photo details
BELGRADE, 29 December 2003 - The parliamentary elections on 28 December in Serbia went smoothly and were generally conducted in line with international standards. However, the election law contains serious shortcomings including a key article contradicting OSCE Commitments and Council of Europe standards.
This was the conclusion of the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) in Belgrade, which published its preliminary findings today, based on the work of some 180 long- and short-term observers.
"These elections were another attempt to consolidate democracy in Serbia and contribute to its further integration into European structures," said Ihor Ostash, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Co-ordinator, appointed by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
"We welcome the relatively high participation and that voters had a genuine choice, as contesting parties and coalitions came from across the political spectrum. However, Parliament should reform the election law as a matter of urgency."
Murat Mercan, Head of the delegation of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly said: "Three candidate lists are led by indicted war criminals. This sends out a negative message. While formally not in breach of the law, it shows a lack of political responsibility and is a reminder that a number of political parties in Serbia are still caught up in the denounced legacy of the past."
"A comprehensive review of the election legislation is long overdue," added Nikolai Vulchanov, the Head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Elections and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission.
"Transparency needs to be enhanced to allow voters to know which candidates they are voting for, rather than enable parties to name MPs arbitrarily from the candidates' lists," The Constitutional Court has ruled that stripping elected representatives of their mandates is in breach of the Constitution. It is a matter of urgency to bring the election law in line with the Constitution and OSCE commitments."
"It is unfortunate that legal restrictions de facto disenfranchised eligible voters who were homebound, hospitalized, imprisoned or temporally living abroad," said Guenther Krug, Vice-President of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) and Head of the Delegation.
The IEOM noted that many voters felt they were able to vote for their preferred option, rather than for the party they disliked the least, as has often been the case in previous elections. Campaign rhetoric was generally moderate and media coverage of the campaign largely unbiased. Overall, the election administration worked in an efficient and open manner despite challenges caused by lack of an intermediate level of election administration.
This was the conclusion of the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) in Belgrade, which published its preliminary findings today, based on the work of some 180 long- and short-term observers.
"These elections were another attempt to consolidate democracy in Serbia and contribute to its further integration into European structures," said Ihor Ostash, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Co-ordinator, appointed by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
"We welcome the relatively high participation and that voters had a genuine choice, as contesting parties and coalitions came from across the political spectrum. However, Parliament should reform the election law as a matter of urgency."
Murat Mercan, Head of the delegation of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly said: "Three candidate lists are led by indicted war criminals. This sends out a negative message. While formally not in breach of the law, it shows a lack of political responsibility and is a reminder that a number of political parties in Serbia are still caught up in the denounced legacy of the past."
"A comprehensive review of the election legislation is long overdue," added Nikolai Vulchanov, the Head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Elections and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission.
"Transparency needs to be enhanced to allow voters to know which candidates they are voting for, rather than enable parties to name MPs arbitrarily from the candidates' lists," The Constitutional Court has ruled that stripping elected representatives of their mandates is in breach of the Constitution. It is a matter of urgency to bring the election law in line with the Constitution and OSCE commitments."
"It is unfortunate that legal restrictions de facto disenfranchised eligible voters who were homebound, hospitalized, imprisoned or temporally living abroad," said Guenther Krug, Vice-President of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) and Head of the Delegation.
The IEOM noted that many voters felt they were able to vote for their preferred option, rather than for the party they disliked the least, as has often been the case in previous elections. Campaign rhetoric was generally moderate and media coverage of the campaign largely unbiased. Overall, the election administration worked in an efficient and open manner despite challenges caused by lack of an intermediate level of election administration.