ODIHR experts discuss electoral recommendations in Malta

A team of election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) met with electoral stakeholders in Malta from 22 to 25 May 2018 to present the final report of ODIHR’s election assessment mission for the June 2017 early parliamentary elections.

The report’s findings and recommendations were presented to representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, the Electoral Commission, the parliament’s Standing Committee on the Consideration of Bills, the Broadcasting Authority, parliamentary political parties, as well as civil society and media.                                                                  

The recommendations focused on further improving election-related laws and regulations by clarifying existing ambiguities, reviewing limitations on suffrage rights and introducing explicit provisions allowing for citizen and international election observation. Recommendations from ODIHR’s previous election assessment not yet fully addressed were also discussed, including those related to the promotion of women’s participation in politics and fostering greater transparency in campaign finance.

“We appreciate the opportunity to engage in meaningful follow-up in Malta to discuss ODIHR’s recommendations,” said Ambassador Jorge Fuentes, who led the ODIHR election assessment mission. “We regard this visit as a signal of the importance attached by the authorities to enhancing the country’s well-developed electoral process. The Maltese authorities can rely on ODIHR’s support and expertise as they move forward in following up on electoral recommendations.”

Recent legal changes have lowered the voting age to 16 years and decriminalized defamation and libel. Authorities indicated that a number of additional amendments to the election legislation are being finalized in the parliament, including introducing provisions for electronic counting.

ODIHR experts emphasized the importance of addressing recommendations made in the final report and broader reform initiatives in an inclusive and open manner, well ahead of the next elections. During the meetings, the authorities expressed interest in receiving ODIHR support through expert advice and comparative examples of good practice related to topical electoral issues and, in the longer term, in considering requests for legal reviews of draft legislation.

The follow-up visit, the first of its kind in Malta, followed an official invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion.

All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to following up on ODIHR's election assessments and recommendations.