ODIHR experts discuss electoral recommendations in Cyprus

A team of election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report of ODIHR’s Election Expert Team to the 30 May 2021 parliamentary elections in Cyprus on 4 and 5 May 2022.

“We welcome the willingness of the Cypriot authorities to engage in the follow-up activities with ODIHR,” said Vladimir Misev, ODIHR’s Senior Advisor on New Voting Technologies. “We stand ready to support the electoral reform initiated through an open and inclusive dialogue involving  all electoral stakeholders to further strengthen Cyprus’s electoral process.”

The report’s findings and recommendations were discussed with representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Central Election Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Audit Office, the Law Office, the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, the Cyprus Radio-Television Authority, and civil society.

ODIHR experts reiterated that the elections were conducted under an adequate legal framework, with election administration enjoying broad confidence in its impartiality and professionalism. Discussions focused on the ODIHR report recommendations to conduct a comprehensive review of the electoral legal framework to harmonize, clarify and update respective laws and to explicitly provide for the presence of citizen and international observers. ODIHR experts drew attention to the need to improve the regulation of the campaign, campaign financing and the media.

ODIHR discussed with authorities potential assistance in bringing Cyprus’s elections closer in line with international standards and commitments by implementing these recommendations. The ODIHR assistance offered includes expert discussions, thematic workshops and legal reviews related to potential changes to the electoral legislation.

All OSCE participating States have committed to promptly follow up on ODIHR’s electoral assessments and recommendations.