ODIHR sends team to assess parliamentary elections in Ireland

WARSAW, 18 May 2007 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) deployed an Election Assessment Mission to Ireland today for the 24 May parliamentary elections.

The deployment follows an invitation from the Irish Government.

Led by Nikolai Vulchanov (Bulgaria), the mission includes eight election experts, who will meet with relevant government authorities, candidates, political parties, civil society, and the media. They will assess and report on the overall framework for the conduct of elections with regard to OSCE commitments on democratic elections.

On election day, the assessment team will visit several polling stations and counting centres to follow procedures, but does not intend to carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting, or tabulation.

This is the first time the ODIHR will be assessing elections in Ireland.