ODIHR experts present election observation reports and discuss recommendations in Portugal

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) conducted a follow-up visit to Lisbon from 26 to 29 May to present the final report on Portugal’s 2025 early parliamentary elections and discuss reports on the 2021 presidential and 2022 early parliamentary elections in the country.

“We welcome the productive dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders and their openness to discuss practical ways to improve election-related processes, including through renewed considerations of options for consolidating the election-related laws and regulations” said Jelena Stefanović, leader of the ODIHR Election Expert Team for the 2025 early parliamentary elections. “The period ahead of the next elections provides an important opportunity for the authorities, political parties and civil society to work closely together to further strengthen the security, integrity, transparency and effectiveness of the agencies involved in the election administration. ODIHR remains ready to support these efforts and to assist in moving forward with the implementation of previous recommendations.”

The delegation discussed key findings with government officials, the election administration, the Constitutional Court, political parties and representatives of civil society. The discussions focused on the potential reforms of electoral legislation, including perspectives to regulate election observation, capacity-building measures for institutional resilience to electoral interference and disinformation, technical improvements for transparency and the efficiency of state institutions, including the political and campaign finance oversight mechanism. The meetings also included discussions on measures necessary to facilitate the participation of women in political life, and to improve conditions for the electoral participation of persons with disabilities. 

ODIHR experts outlined areas where ODIHR could work with national institutions and offered assistance to bring the country’s electoral processes closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards, including through legal reviews and sharing best practices.  

In its election observation work, ODIHR also assesses countries’ efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. In the case of Portugal, the ODIHR election expert team evaluated the follow-up to recommendations made following the 2021 presidential and 2022 early parliamentary elections. It concluded that eight of the prior recommendations had been partially addressed, while the others remain to be carried out. 

Further details can be found in the ODIHR Electoral Recommendations Database. All OSCE participating States have committed to following up promptly on ODIHR's election assessments and recommendations.