European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) has highlighted the general elections scheduled for October 10, 2023, that it represents a significant test for democratic consolidation in Liberia.
Therefore, it believes that it is important for the European Union to accompany Liberian people in this process, and it trusts that state authorities, political parties, and all candidates will play their part in promoting a credible, peaceful, transparent, and inclusive electoral process.
EU Chief Observer, Andreas Schieder, a Member of the European Parliament, made these comments during a news conference in Monrovia.
He said EU-EOM to Liberia was deployed at the invitation of the Liberian government and arrived in Monrovia since Monday, August 27, 2023 with a team of 10 analysts.
Schieder stated that the mission observes and assesses the general elections against national law, commitments, and obligations, for democratic elections deriving from international and regional standards, as well as good practices for democratic elections.
“We already deployed 20 long-term observers all over Liberia. The mission observes and analyses the whole electoral process, including the legal framework, electoral administration, voter and candidates registration, the campaign environment, including the traditional and social media, voting, counting, and tabulation of the results, as well as the complaints and appeals process, and staying in the country until the completion of the electoral process,” said the Chief observer.
Schieder is leading the EU Mission as the Chief Observer and already met different stakeholders, including the National Elections Commission, Justice and State for Presidential Affairs Minister, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, candidates in the presidential race, as well as the representatives of civil society, and the media.
“After several meetings in Monrovia, I can see the state of preparations of the institutions in charge of elections, as well as the candidates and political parties. Our long-term observers deployed in all 15 counties already met various stakeholders and are preparing and sending us comprehensive evidence-based reports from their areas of observation,” the Chief Observer said.
Around Election Day, he continued, additional 40 short-term observers will reinforce the EU EOM that will have around 100 observers on the ground, including members of the European parliament and EU diplomats accredited in Liberia from EU member states, as well as from Canada and Norway, stating that all EU EOM observers are bound by a code of conduct, which requires strict neutrality and non-interference.
The EU Mission undertakes its work in accordance with the declaration of principles for international election observation. It will issue its initial findings in a preliminary statement, which will be presented in a press conference two days after Election Day.
Thereafter, a final report with recommendations for improvement will be presented at a later stage. The EU has an established methodology for observing elections. Observers do not interfere in the electoral process and have no authority to change or correct any shortcomings.
All EU election observers are bound by a strict code of conduct and ethical guidelines that guarantee their neutrality and impartiality.
The EU EOM evaluates according to international standards and operates in accordance with the ‘Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation’, adopted at the United Nations in 2005 by a number of international bodies involved in election observation.
The main objectives of EU Election Observation are the support of the democratic process in partner countries, to enhance public confidence in the electoral process, and to strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law.
It said the observers will present a preliminary statement within 48 hours after Election Day, and a final report with recommendations for future elections will be presented approximately two to three months after the end of the whole electoral process.
