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Press release
Yugoslav election laws do not meet international standards
- Date:
- Place:
- WARSAW
- Source:
- OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
- Fields of work:
- Elections
WARSAW, 31 August 2000 - The laws governing the forthcoming elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are not in line with international standards. This is the conclusion of an assessment of the Yugoslav election legislation, which was published yesterday by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).
"The Yugoslav election legislation provides considerable scope for abuse", said ODIHR Director Gérard Stoudmann, the Head of the principal OSCE institution dealing with election observation.
The report condemns the failure of the election laws to guarantee a transparent election process. There is no adequate provision to ensure effective monitoring by election observers and the mass media. Also, the legislation does not contain any requirements to publish voting results immediately at each level of the tabulation process, thus opening the way for serious malpractice.
Other serious concerns relate to the fact that the election laws enable the party in power to fully control election commissions at all levels, and to the inadequate stipulations on voter complaints procedures.
In addition, the ODIHR report criticizes the Law on the Election of the President for its lack of clear and detailed procedures which could open the door for arbitrary application of the Law by the authorities.
The full report is available on the ODIHR website at //www.osce.org/odihr/elecrep-fry.htm.
The ODIHR also expressed its deep concern about the disappearance of the former President of Serbia, Mr. Ivan Stambolic, and called on the Yugoslav authorities to account for his whereabouts.
For further information contact Mr. Hrair Balian, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Section at +48 22 520 06 00 in Warsaw.
"The Yugoslav election legislation provides considerable scope for abuse", said ODIHR Director Gérard Stoudmann, the Head of the principal OSCE institution dealing with election observation.
The report condemns the failure of the election laws to guarantee a transparent election process. There is no adequate provision to ensure effective monitoring by election observers and the mass media. Also, the legislation does not contain any requirements to publish voting results immediately at each level of the tabulation process, thus opening the way for serious malpractice.
Other serious concerns relate to the fact that the election laws enable the party in power to fully control election commissions at all levels, and to the inadequate stipulations on voter complaints procedures.
In addition, the ODIHR report criticizes the Law on the Election of the President for its lack of clear and detailed procedures which could open the door for arbitrary application of the Law by the authorities.
The full report is available on the ODIHR website at //www.osce.org/odihr/elecrep-fry.htm.
The ODIHR also expressed its deep concern about the disappearance of the former President of Serbia, Mr. Ivan Stambolic, and called on the Yugoslav authorities to account for his whereabouts.
For further information contact Mr. Hrair Balian, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Section at +48 22 520 06 00 in Warsaw.
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