OSCE/ODIHR sends team of experts for Estonian parliamentary elections

WARSAW/TALLIN, 20 February 2007 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) deployed an Election Assessment Mission to Estonia today for the 4 March election to the Riigikogu (parliament). The deployment follows an invitation from the Estonian government.

The mission, led by Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), will include 13 election experts and staff.

The purpose of the mission will be to assess and report on the overall framework for the conduct of elections in Estonia with regard to OSCE commitments for holding democratic elections. The mission will meet relevant governmental authorities, in particular with the National Electoral Committee, as well as with candidates, political parties, civil society and the media.

Among other election-related issues, the mission will follow the use of remote voting by internet, which will be the first countrywide use of the internet as a voting method in a parliamentary election in an OSCE participating State.

The OSCE/ODIHR does not intend to carry out a systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation on Election Day, but the team of experts does plan to visit several polling stations across the country to follow procedures on Election Day.

The OSCE/ODIHR has previously deployed election observation missions to Estonia for the Riigikogu elections held in 1995 and 1999.