News and press releases

Canada Early Federal Election 2021: ODIHR Final Report Canada early federal election 2021: ODIHR election expert team final report Following the 20 September 2021 early federal election in Canada, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published its election expert

Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, welcomed the commitment by the State Election Commission (SEC) to amend internal rules and procedures to ensure its meetings are public. This has been a long-standing recommendation by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). “This decision will result in greater openness and accountability of the SEC, which is a necessary step in ensuring a transparent election management body,” said Leirtroe, adding that the Mission will be working with the SEC in the coming months to ensure all meetings can be livestreamed. According to the Survey on Public Perceptions and Confidence in Election Management Bodies in Montenegro, commissioned by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and published in November 2021, there was a need to further strengthen the transparency and professionalism of election management bodies. As many as 87.3% of citizens believed that opening sessions to the public would contribute to greater public confidence in the work of the SEC and the election process as a whole.

The 2021 early parliamentary elections in Moldova were well administered, competitive, and fundamental freedoms were largely respected. While lower-level commissions enjoyed trust, key decisions by the Central Election Commission brought its impartiality into question. Candidates had ample opportunities to campaign and voters were provided a wide range of alternatives. The legal framework does not adequately regulate electoral dispute resolution, and the handling of electoral complaints further highlighted the importance of strengthening judicial independence...

The 2021 parliamentary elections in Cyprus were governed by the legal framework that generally provided for the conduct of democratic elections; however, the legislation remains overly complex and requires comprehensive review. While the party finance legislation was amended to enhance

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented their final report on Italy’s 2018 parliamentary elections during a visit to Rome that took place from 29 November to 1 December 2021. The experts discussed the report’s key findings and

BISHKEK, 29 November 2021 – Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary elections were competitive, but they lacked meaningful voter engagement due to a stifled campaign, constitutional changes weakening parliament and extensive legislative changes to key aspects of the election. Generally adequate election legislation was undermined by limitations on civil and political rights as well as diminished separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. Voters had a wide range of political options to choose from. Election preparations were handled efficiently by the election administration, and election day was peaceful, international observers said in a statement today.

As many as 89.9% of Montenegrin citizens believe that the functioning of the State Election Commission (SEC) affects the democracy of electoral processes and the trust that citizens have in the elections in Montenegro. This is one of key findings from a Survey on Public Perceptions and Confidence in Election Management Bodies in Montenegro, commissioned by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and conducted by the Damar agency. In this regard, the Mission considers the appointment of a new SEC Chair as a matter of urgency.