OSCE/ODIHR opens limited observation mission for Croatia's presidential election

ZAGREB, 8 December 2009 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a limited observation mission to monitor the 27 December presidential election in Croatia.

ODIHR was invited by the Croatian authorities to observe the election. OSCE commitments require all 56 participating States to invite the Organization to observe their elections.

The mission, headed by Ambassador Daan Everts, comprises 10 election experts based in the capital and 12 long-term observers deployed throughout the country.

The experts and long-term observers will assess the election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards, as well as with national legislation.

The mission will follow the entire election process, including campaign activities, the media coverage and environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

It will pay particular attention to the process of voter registration, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies and election-related legislation and its implementation, including campaign finance regulations.

In line with standard ODIHR practice for limited election observation 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 procedures.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

The mission will remain in the country should there be a second round.

The ODIHR limited election observation mission and the OSCE Office in Zagreb operate separately under their distinct mandates.