The European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Liberia to observe the Presidential and House of Parliament Elections on the 10th of October. Today the EU Election Observation Mission has deployed 20 long-term observers to the regions.

“This election is a historical moment for Liberia”, said Deputy Chief Observer Alessandro Parziale. “The European Union Election Observation Mission will monitor the process without interfering or supervising. I hope that our team of analysts and observers will contribute with impartial and objective assessments to a democratic transition in Liberia.”

The EU EOM arrived with a Deputy Chief Observer and Core Team of 8 analysts on the 31st of August in Monrovia. This group of experts consists of election, political, legal, human rights and gender, finance, media and data analysts. On the 4th of September the team met with the Chairman, Co-Chairman and Commissioners of the National Election Commission of Liberia (NEC) and launched the Mission officially. Since then the EU EOM had several meetings with Liberian authorities and groups including Ministries, Journalists and civil Society organisations as well as the Delegation of the European Union to Liberia.

A group of 20 long-term observers joined the EU EOM on the 10th of September and will be deployed today to different parts of Liberia to follow the electoral preparations and campaigns. The EU Election Observers come from 20 different Member States of the European Union. They will stay in Liberia beyond election day. Additionally 34 short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country together with locally recruited short-term observers.

“The EU EOM will assess the elections according to Liberia’s national law and the international commitments it has made regarding elections. It will focus on the entire electoral process, including the legal framework, electoral administration, voter registration, nominations, campaigning, the conduct of the media, voting and the counting, the tally of results and dispute resolution mechanisms”, explains Deputy Chief Observer Alessandro Parziale. All EU EOM observers are bound by a code of conduct, which requires strict neutrality and non-interference. The EU EOM undertakes its work in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. It will publish its initial findings in a preliminary statement, which will be presented in a press conference shortly after election day. A Final Report with recommendations to the public will be presented at a later stage.