The Ambassador of the European Union in Liberia, Laurent Delahousse, says the practice of voters’ trucking is illegal, reiterating that it is against the regulations and against the basic principles of representative democracy.
He observed that issues of trucking voters have overwhelmed the National Elections Commission (NEC) during the Biometric Voter Registration exercises and emphasized, “I just wanted to mention that issue because it has been witnessed by many of our observers in the country.”
He admitted that voters’ trucking is one thing that is predominant in every nook and corner of Liberia
The EU Ambassador said trucking has nothing to do with campaigning.
According to Delahousse, the campaign regulations are very important because, for the functioning of the Liberian democracy, it is essential that there is a level playing field pointing out that it is essential that all players follow the same rules, that there are no players who start campaigning before the others.
He maintained that there are objective differences between the means and resources available to political parties, but the rules must be the same and the rules must be strictly enforced by the National Elections Commission and strictly respected by the political parties.
In the meantime, the EU Ambassador said the international community supports the electoral process in Liberia politically and financially adding that they are great friends and admirers of the Liberian democracy, if invited by the Government of Liberia and by the Elections Commission, they will send observers for the election.
He made the brief comment at the Commission yesterday when the NEC through its Political Affairs Sections, began the distribution of the revised and published guidelines on the campaign to all registered political parties.
“The commission, through its Political Affairs Section distributed hard copies of the Guidelines to all registered political parties in March of this year and recently, the Commission again distributed hard copies to the political parties at an informative workshop held with executives of the parties on April 18-19, 2023 in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County,” NEC Chairperson stated.
Madam Davidetta Brown-Lansanah explained that the guidelines, amongst others, define campaign as any verbal expression or symbolic speech of an aspirant, candidate, political party, coalition or alliance done for the purpose of electing or promoting an aspirant or candidate for elective public office.
However, the Commission intimated that any campaign activity done prior to the campaigning period is considered pre-campaigning and it is punishable by a fine not less than US$1,000 nor more than US$5,000 or its equivalent in Liberian dollars, payable into government revenue.
“Again, the revised guidelines cover both verbal expression and symbolic speech. The Commission wishes to remind all registered political parties, the coalitions, alliances and would-be aspirants that the campaign period for the 2023 Presidential and legislative elections, as published by the Commission, is August 5 2023 to October 8, 2023,” Brown-Lansanah intimated.
According to the elections body, pursuant to Section 2.9(h) of the 1986 Elections Law, which states, in essential part, the Commission shall “Formulate and Enforce guidelines controlling the conduct of all elections for electives public offices,” the commission as of May 5, 2023, will begin the documentation of violations and in consistent with due process apply the appropriate actions against non-compliance as in keeping with the revised campaign guidelines.
