Presidential Election, 13 and 27 June 2004

In response to an invitation from the Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly, the OSCE/ODIHR observed the 13 June 2004 presidential elections in Serbia (Serbia and Montenegro).

Background

Serbia has been without an elected president since the end of 2002. All attempts to elect a president in 2002 and 2003 failed due to insufficient voter turnout (below the 50 per cent required for valid elections) and inadequate legislative provisions allowing for a cycle of failed elections.

Recently, Serbia's parliament adopted significant amendments to the election legislation, including abolishing the requirement for 50 per cent voter turnout, to address the above-mentioned deficiency.

ODIHR's needs assessment mission in connection with the upcoming presidential election was conducted on 29-30 April 2004.

Long-term observation
 
The EOM, headed by Ambassador Stephen Nash (United Kingdom), includes international staff based at the Belgrade head office and 13 long-term observers deployed throughout the republic. Two of these were recruited through a voluntary fund established to diversify the national composition of election observation missions.

Before, during, and after election day, the mission will assess the entire election process against national legislation and international standards for democratic elections agreed to by all OSCE participating States. Observers will closely monitor the entire electoral process, including campaign activities, administrative preparations, and the resolution of election-related disputes. Media-monitoring activities will be one of the main focuses of the EOM.

Election day
 
ODIHR will not request short-term observers to monitor the voting at polling stations on election day.

Previous elections

ODIHR has observed a number of elections in the Republic of Serbia/Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including the 2003 parliamentary elections, the 2003 presidential election, the 2002 presidential and repeat presidential elections, the 2002 partial municipal elections, the 2000 parliamentary elections, the 1997 parliamentary and presidential elections, and the 1997 re-run of the presidential election.