EU Deploys 24 Observers to Monitor Upcoming Lebanese Elections

Inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg (AFP/File Photo)

The European Union Election Observation Mission Tuesday deployed 24 long-term observers to 12 different locations in Lebanon, to begin their efforts to support credible, transparent and inclusive parliamentary elections.

Each designated location will host two observers, who will “observe all aspects of the electoral process,” EU EOM Deputy Chief Observer Jose Antonio De Gabriel said in a statement released Tuesday. The teams will also meet “election officials” and follow up on electoral campaigns as May 6 – Election Day – approaches, Gabriel said.

The mission’s chief observer, Elena Valenciano, was also expected to arrive in Lebanon Tuesday to meet with officials and candidates.

Valenciano will hold a press conference Friday to officially launch the mission – which was launched following an invitation from Lebanese authorities – at Movenpick Hotel in Raouche.

On Election Day, a team of 36 short-term observers will join the long-term observers in Lebanon, as will members of the European Parliament and around 30 representatives from EU embassies. At this stage, over 100 observers will be present on the ground.

The short-term observers are primarily tasked with observing expat voting, which will take place on April 27 and 29.

The EU mission has also deployed a team of nine analysts, who have been in Lebanon since March 27, and will stay in the country until the conclusion of the electoral process. They are tasked with preparing a detailed report on the process that will be presented to Lebanese authorities and all relevant stakeholders.

The EU sent teams to observe Lebanon’s previous two elections, held in 2005 and 2009. Those observation missions were also made at the request of the Lebanese government.

This article has been adapted from its original source.