IFES-OPORA Updates Joint Paper on Legal Reform Priorities for Elections, Referendums and Political Finance
Kyiv, June 20, 2018
IFES and Civil Network OPORA prepared an updated version of the “Legal Reform Priorities for Elections, Referendums and Political Finance” paper, which addresses changes that have occurred since June 2017 and identifies the urgent election-related priorities that must be implemented at least one year before the October 2019 Parliamentary Elections, as necessitated by international standards and best practices.
Promo-LEX and Civic Coalition criticize new accreditation process for observers in Moldova
Chişinaú, June 19, 2018
Promo-LEX, EPDE member organisation from Moldova, and several other members of the Civic Coalition call the urgent repeal of CEC Decision no. 1694 of 12 June 2018, complicating the election observers' accreditation and activity. The Signatory Organizations have also expressed their profound disappointment with the eroding of democracy in Moldova,
after 40% of the votes on Chisinau mayor elections were invalidated.
Recommendations for Improvement of Electoral Environment by ISFED
Tbilisi, June 14, 2018
ISFED, together with GYLA and TI-Georgia presented a package of priority recommendations for improvement of electoral environment in Georgia. The two packages of recommendations cover the issues of political party finance and regulations in the Election Code to improve various aspects related to campaigning, misuse of administrative resources, election administration composition, electoral disputes, etc.
EPDE experts at European Parliament: mixed election system promotes corruption
Brussels, June 7, 2018
EPDE and four of its member organisations (ISFED, Promo-LEX, OPORA, CVU and HCA Vanadzor) took part in the Euronest Conference on electoral reform in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. During the event, several EPDE speakers highlighted that one of the main challenges for electoral reform in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova is the mixed election system, since the majoritarian element of the mixed system is prone to vote-buying.
Severe sanctions against four members – EPDE contributed to disclosure
Strasbourg, May 18, 2018
The Committee on Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has found that four of its members have "seriously breached" the Code of Conduct of the organisation, and ruled that all four should be temporarily deprived of a number of rights in the Assembly, including the right to observe elections. EPDE contributed to the investigation of this body and welcomes this decision.
By-elections of self-government in Zugdidi: Introduction of electronic technologies
Tbilisi, May 14, 2018
On May 13, EPDE's Georgian member the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) was monitoring the municipality Sakrebulo by-elections in Tsaishi local majoritarian electoral district of Zugdidi Electoral District no.67, through 3 precinct and 1 district electoral commission observers and 1 mobile group.The main novelty introduced in the 13 May 2018 elections was piloting of machines for electronic counting of votes (e-counting).
Media coverage of EPDE's listing as "undesirable" in Russia
Berlin, May 7, 2018
On 13 March 2018, the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) was classified as "undesirable organizations" by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. EPDE protested against this decision and was supported by a number of international organisations. Several international key media report on the recent developments.
EPDE Policy Alert - Electoral Reform in Ukraine #6
Kyiv, April 26, 2018
On 4 April, the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy and Justice confirmed the composition of a working group assigned to prepare the second reading of the draft Electoral Code No. 3112-1. The draft Electoral Code advocates a proportional system for parliamentary elections with open regional party lists.
EPDE Policy Alert - Electoral Reform in Ukraine #5
Kyiv, April 19, 2018
The draft law, which proposes to introduce amendments to the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offences, and the national and local electoral legislation, aims to address impunity and to improve the current flawed enforcement system for electoral crimes by harmonizing legislation and strengthening sanctions for election violations.
Kremlin-friendly election observers from Europe and US at the presidential elections in Russia
Moscow, April 16, 2018
While Russia’s Central Election Commission published a list of foreign observers present at the presidential elections, it refused to publicise the names of the foreign observers invited by the Federal Assembly. However we have identified 160 foreign observers who monitored the presidential election in Russia (125 observers out of 439).