Parliamentary Elections, 14-15 June 2002

ODIHR deployed an election observation mission in response to an invitation from the Czech Foreign Ministry.

Headed by Peter Eicher of the United States, the mission began work on 16 May and remained in the Czech Republic through 19 June. Nine experts and long-term observers from seven OSCE participating States were deployed in Prague, Brno and Plzen. No short-term observers were deployed to monitor polling and other election-day proceedings.

According to the mission's final report: "The 14-15 June 2002 elections for the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic met international standards and commitments for democratic elections.

"The elections took place in a generally calm and low key political atmosphere, without undue tension or sharply divisive issues. Twenty-eight political formations registered and were able to campaign freely and actively. The elections were significant in part because the newly elected Chamber will select the next President and is likely to guide Czech accession to the European Union."