ISP, appeal to politicians/ "Do not use the ODIHR/OSCE report to justify failures"

2023-09-30 15:30:00, Aktualitet CNA

ISP, appeal to politicians/ "Do not use the ODIHR/OSCE report to justify

The Institute of Political Studies has come out with a reaction to the final report of the ODIHR/OSCE mission on the local elections of May 14.

ISP welcomes the report, stating that it constitutes the most important document for evaluating the standards of the electoral process.

The Institute declares that the report should not be read for or against the political parties, as it emphasizes that it is not a document to justify failures nor to hide from political or criminal responsibilities.

ISP underlines that the report is a document addressed to all parties, institutions and actors involved, where the hierarchy of responsibility reflects the pyramid of decision-making power in the Parliament, in the government, in the opposition, in the CEC, in the administration and in the institutions.

ISP Statement:

ISP has had an active role in monitoring the process, addressing recommendations and focusing on decriminalization and candidate, party and campaign integrity standards.

On this basis, ISP welcomes the related priority findings, concerns and recommendations:

with the violation of the integrity of the vote through clientelistic and corrupt practices

with the multiple misuse of state resources in the campaign

with the polarized climate, threatening rhetoric and lack of programs

with the crisis of political representation and the problems of legitimacy

with cases of double standards in the CEC and in the election administration

with the critical role of the media and the misuse of online media

The report confirms that the elections had legitimacy and competition, but the government and the responsible institutions failed to implement the standards that a candidate country for EU membership needs. The missing electoral reform is a bilateral responsibility. In their essence, the elections of May 14, 2023 were one more process in the critical models of transition, not a process that creates separation from the transition and transition to a new stage.

Important: the report should not be read pro vs against political parties. It is not a document to justify failures nor to hide from political or criminal responsibilities. It is a document addressed to all parties, institutions and actors involved, - where of course the hierarchy of responsibility reflects the pyramid of decision-making power in the parliament, in the government, in the opposition, in the CEC, in the administration and in the institutions.

The ISP welcomes the priority recommendation of the ODIHR, "for significant electoral reform and address all recommendations", and appeals to the Assembly, the parliamentary parties and the OSCE itself to consider the reform a priority, as well as to create space for real and integrative involvement and consultation with civil society .

During the months of October - November, ISP will initiate two discussion tables with the Assembly and local and international partners regarding electoral issues, a good opportunity for the institutions and the special electoral reform commission to support civil society initiatives and provide their concrete contributions regarding with the recommendations and priorities of the reform./ CNA