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Home Institutions and structures OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Elections Czech Republic Presidential Election, 11-12 January 2013
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Presidential Election, 11-12 January 2013

Type:

Election assessment mission

Country:

Czech Republic

Mission at a glance

  • Head of Mission: Tana de Zulueta (Italy)
  • Five core team experts from five participating States, based in Prague

Mission schedule

  • 3 January: Opening of the mission
  • 11-12 January: Election days
  • 18 January: Closing of the mission

Following an official invitation from the Permanent Delegation of the Czech Republic to the OSCE, and based on the findings and conclusions of a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM), the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Assessment Mission (EAM) for the 11-12 January 2013 presidential election.

ODIHR conducted a NAM from 22 to 24 October 2012 to assess the pre-election environment and the preparations for the presidential election and in order to recommend whether to deploy an OSCE/ODIHR election-related activity for the forthcoming election, and if so, what type of activity best meets the identified needs. The NAM recommended the deployment of an assessment mission.

The EAM will not remain in the country to continue its observation for the second round of the election.

Mission Activities

The mission, headed by Tana de Zulueta, began work on 3 January. The EAM includes six international staff, drawn from five OSCE participating States.

The mission will assess the election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Observers will, in particular, look into aspects related to the implementation of the new legal framework, voter list preparation, application of campaign finance regulations and the work of the media.

In line with ODIHR’s methodology for assessment 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.

The mission, which will remain in the Czech Republic until 18 January, will issue a report approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

Previous Elections

OSCE/ODIHR has previously assessed the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic in 1998 and 2002. It has also deployed an expert team to Prague in connection with the 2009 elections to the European Parliament.