HomeResourcesElection-related Legal Opinions and Comments
Resources
Election-related Legal Opinions and Comments
Legal books line the shelves of ODIHR's Elections Department. (OSCE/Agnieszka Rembowska) Photo details
OSCE/ODIHR Assessment of Draft Amendments to the Law on Elections to the Majilisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan
This assessment reviews and comments on pending amendments to the law on elections to the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan. This assessment is based on an unofficial English translation of the amended Election Law, as reflected in 58
articles of current text on 31 pages and nine pages of amendments to 30 articles. The text reviewed has been provided by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(“OSCE/ODIHR”).
Joint Final Assessment of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan
After a prolonged genesis, the Electoral Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (below “the code”) was adopted by the national parliament (Milli Majlis) on 27 May 2003. The Code governs the conduct of referendums and parliamentary, presidential and municipal elections in one very substantial and comprehensive document. Over the last year, the Venice Commission and the OSCE-ODIHR (below “the two organisations”) engaged in an intensive dialogue with the drafters of the code in order to improve the successive drafts. Both organisations have produced a series of preliminary assessments suggesting a large number of recommendations.
OSCE/ODIHR Review of Laws for Elections to the Legislative Bodies of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Elections to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales are scheduled for 1 May of this year, and elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are planned for 29 May. The OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has been invited by the Government of the United Kingdom to organize an assessment mission for these elections. The elections to the legislative bodies of the devolved administrations will be held concurrently with local elections.
This review of the laws of the United Kingdom governing elections to the legislative bodies of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is based primarily on an examination of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 20012 (“NI Elections Order”), as amended. The other statutes and materials listed in the references hereto have also been consulted.
Review of the Draft Law on Political Parties in Romania
A Draft Law on Political Parties (hereinafter “the Draft Law”) was adopted by the Parliament of Romania and has been submitted to the President for signature. The Draft Law would replace the current Law on Political Parties (1996), except for the chapter of the latter related to financing of political parties.
Joint Revised Preliminary Assessment of the Revised Draft Election Code of 28 November 2002 in Azerbaijan
At its 45th Plenary meeting (Venice, 15-16 December 2000), the Venice Commission approved the programme of co-operation with Azerbaijan which had been proposed by Messrs Khanlar Hajiyev, President of the Constitutional Court, Mr Ramiz
Mehdiyev, Head of the Presidential Administration and Mr Safa Mirzoyev, Head of the Administration of Parliament (CDL (2001) 5). The main lines of the programme followed the mandate given to the Venice
Commission by the Committee of Ministers (CM (2000) 170). In conformity with its mandate, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has been engaged in Azerbaijan since 1998 through the
implementation of technical assistance projects mainly aiming at improving the election legislation in co-operation with the authorities and civil society of Azerbaijan.
Joint Assessment of the Amendments to the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia, Adopted in July 2002
In November 2001, the Armenian authorities, through Mr Tigran Torossian, VicePresident of the National Assembly, asked the Venice Commission for an opinion on draft amendments to the electoral code. Two opinions were provided by Messrs. Bernard Owen and Tom Mackie (CDL (2002) 4 and 39). At its 50th plenary session (Venice, 8-9 March 2002), the Venice Commission instructed the Secretariat to prepare a consolidated opinion on the draft amendments to the electoral law of Armenia and to forward it to the Armenian authorities. This was done in April 2002 (CDL-AD (2002) 7).
Assessment of Amendments to the Legislative Framework for Elections in Montenegro (FRY)
This assessment reviews a set of legislation, amending the legal framework for elections and related media legislation, adopted on 18 July 2002 by the Republican Assembly (the Parliament) of the Republic of Montenegro/FRY, returned by the
President to the Parliament without signature on 25 July, adopted again by the Parliament on 29 July, and finally signed into law by the President on 30 July.
OSCE/ODIHR Comments and Recommendations on Implementation of the Parliamentary Election Law in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
This assessment reviews and comments on the “Law on Election of Members of Parliament in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia”, or Parliamentary Election Law, which was adopted by the Assembly of the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM) on 14 June 2002. The assessment contains comments and recommendations on various aspects of the newly introduced election legislation with a view to its implementation during the forthcoming parliamentary elections
scheduled to take place on 15 September.