Latvian election transparent and professional but issue of "non-citizens" remains

RIGA, 8 October 2006 - Yesterday's parliamentary elections in the Republic of Latvia were administered transparently and professionally, and the campaign took place in a competitive and pluralistic environment.

However, little action has been taken with respect to previous recommendations regarding important issues affecting the election process, in particular the presence of a significant number of "non-citizens" who do not have voting rights, as well as remaining restrictions on candidacy rights. The election day process itself was conducted efficiently.

These are the joint preliminary conclusions of the Limited Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), led by Ambassador Boris Frlec, and the Limited Short Term Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly led by Vice-President Barbara Haering. The missions observed at the invitation of the Latvian authorities.

"These elections met most OSCE commitments for democratic elections and permitted Latvian voters to elect the representatives of their choice. I hope that cultural diversity will be increasingly valued as an asset to which the entire population can contribute," said Vice-President Haering.

Ambassador Frlec added: "I am impressed with the broad public confidence the Latvian election process enjoys. However, this trust cannot be complete as long as citizenship, including the right to vote, remains an issue for a significant part of the population."