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OSCE/ODIHR final report on Belarus’ parliamentary elections: many OSCE commitments not met

 

The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the September 18-23 House of Representatives elections in Belarus concludes that many OSCE commitments were not met, and offers recommendations to bring the conduct of elections in line with fundamental principles for democratic elections.

The report notes that, despite some improvements to the electoral law, many OSCE commitments, including citizens’ rights to associate, to stand as candidates and to express themselves freely, were not respected.

“While there was an increase in the number of candidates put forward by parties, prominent political figures who might have played a role in this contest remained imprisoned or were not eligible to register due to their criminal record,” the report says. “The field of contestants was also constricted by arbitrary administrative actions, leading to a limitation of choice for voters. The elections were not administered in an impartial manner and the complaints and appeals process did not guarantee effective remedy.”

According to the report, while international observers assessed positively the early voting process and the voting process on the main polling day, a number of procedural errors or omissions were observed. The process deteriorated considerably during the count of votes. Observers were not given a meaningful opportunity to observe the count and evaluated the process negatively in a significant number of the observed polling stations.

“Despite some improvements, the legal framework does not adequately guarantee the conduct of elections in line with OSCE commitments and international standards,” the report says. “In particular, this includes key provisions concerning voter and candidate registration, election commission composition, election observation, election day procedures, and the complaints and appeals process. Several important articles lack clarity allowing for an arbitrary and inconsistent application of the law including, for example, the criteria for signature verification for candidate registration.”

The report recommends that electoral reform be undertaken well in advance of the next elections. It suggests that the authorities should formulate concrete and effective steps to address the recommendations identified by the OSCE/ODIHR and adds that the process should be transparent and inclusive of all parts of society.

To enhance transparency and confidence in the election results, the report recommends that clear, open and transparent procedures for the counting of votes be established and strictly implemented, while preliminary and final results should be published with a complete breakdown of the vote by polling station.

The report adds that the role of the president in appointing senior officials to the central election commission could be reconsidered so as to increase confidence in the body’s independence.

It also recommends that any restrictions on the voter and candidate rights of citizens in prison or pre-trial detention should be proportional and clearly outlined in law, and that the legal framework should be amended to ensure that all decisions by election commissions are subject to judicial appeal. //BelaPAN