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Press release
Serbian presidential elections largely in line with international standards, but shortcomings persist
- Date:
- Place:
- BELGRADE
- Source:
- OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Mission to Serbia
- Fields of work:
- Elections
BELGRADE, 30 September 2002 - The first round of the presidential elections in the Republic of Serbia/Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was largely in line with international standards, but shortcomings persist, concluded the International Election Observation Mission in a statement issued today (attached). More than 250 international observers deployed by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly monitored the entire electoral process.
"As a whole, the election was largely in compliance with international standards, but the election legislation still contains a number of significant shortcomings inherited from the previous regime", said Nikolai Vulchanov, the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR's long-term Election Observation Mission. "Although we already noted these deficiencies during the 2000 parliamentary elections, no attempt was made in the meantime to amend the problematic provisions."
"Our final conclusion on these elections will depend on the conduct of the second round, in particular on the role of the election administration and the judiciary in addressing shortcomings and complaints", said Thomas Michael Cox, the representative of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.
The international observers noted that with 11 candidates running for the presidency, the voters had a genuine choice. The campaign remained calm, although at times some candidates went beyond acceptable limits in their rhetoric. No major irregularities were reported by the international observers during election day.
Both public and private media generally fulfilled their legal obligations and covered the campaign in a largely unbiased way, enabling the voters to make an informed choice.
The shortcomings still marring the legislative framework include a number of ambiguous and contradictory provisions, a 50 per cent turnout requirement that can potentially lead to a series of repeat elections without outcome, and the lack of provision for intermediate election administration bodies between the Republican Election Commission and the local polling boards.
"As a whole, the election was largely in compliance with international standards, but the election legislation still contains a number of significant shortcomings inherited from the previous regime", said Nikolai Vulchanov, the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR's long-term Election Observation Mission. "Although we already noted these deficiencies during the 2000 parliamentary elections, no attempt was made in the meantime to amend the problematic provisions."
"Our final conclusion on these elections will depend on the conduct of the second round, in particular on the role of the election administration and the judiciary in addressing shortcomings and complaints", said Thomas Michael Cox, the representative of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.
The international observers noted that with 11 candidates running for the presidency, the voters had a genuine choice. The campaign remained calm, although at times some candidates went beyond acceptable limits in their rhetoric. No major irregularities were reported by the international observers during election day.
Both public and private media generally fulfilled their legal obligations and covered the campaign in a largely unbiased way, enabling the voters to make an informed choice.
The shortcomings still marring the legislative framework include a number of ambiguous and contradictory provisions, a 50 per cent turnout requirement that can potentially lead to a series of repeat elections without outcome, and the lack of provision for intermediate election administration bodies between the Republican Election Commission and the local polling boards.
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