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OAS RECEIVES REPORTS ON ELECTIONS IN COLOMBIA, PERU AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) today received preliminary reports on the missions that observed the recent presidential elections in Peru and Colombia and the legislative and municipal elections in the Dominican Republic.


ELECTIONS IN PERU

Former Foreign Ministers Lloyd Axworthy of Canada and Rafael Bielsa of Argentina, who led the observation mission in Peru, recognized the government, electoral authorities and the Peruvian people for the organization of the electoral process and the significant voter turnout of over 90%. Peruvians went to the polls on June 4 for the second round of the presidential election, choosing Alan García as their next leader.

In remarks to the Permanent Council, Axworthy underscored the role of the OAS mission in Peru, noting that country’s electoral authorities had responded positively to its recommendations after the first round of voting, which facilitated the process in the runoff. This type of contribution by the OAS deserves the continued political and financial support of the member states and the international community, he said.

“Leading the electoral mission to Peru in this past year was, for me, a way of closing the chapter that began in 2000, and to witness the determination of the Peruvian people and the resilience of the OAS and the inter-American system to substantiate and reinforce the commitments to a democratic regime,” said Axworthy, who helped lead a special OAS mission to Peru six years ago. The recent OAS mission not only observed the electoral process, but also looked at Peru’s democratic agenda before and after the elections.

The Canadian diplomat told the Permanent Council that according to information received from the 123 international observers deployed around the country, it was clear that the election was transparent, credible and legitimate. He noted that all parties accepted the results and the electoral authorities demonstrated their commitment to carry out a well-organized election, which brought added legitimacy to the electoral reforms implemented in 2000.

Axworthy also talked about the need for “restraint and prudence by all external actors” when it comes to elections, adding that he was optimistic about recent efforts to bring about a dialogue between the President-elect of Peru and the President of Venezuela.

Bielsa, who headed the mission to Peru on the second-round election day, noted that in general the rules requiring an end to last-minute campaigning were respected and the authorities had responded appropriately to isolated incidents. However, he said additional efforts should be made that enable all Peruvians to express their electoral preferences. He added that the mission perceived a “contradiction” between Peru’s electoral laws, which he said were among the most advanced in the region, and actual practice.


ELECTIONS IN COLOMBIA

Santiago Murray, who headed the OAS mission that monitored Colombia’s May 28 elections, highlighted “the firm will of the majority of Colombians to strengthen their institutions through the democratic mechanisms that the inter-American community promotes and defends.” In his preliminary report, Murray said the international observation of the electoral process helped instill confidence in citizens through facilitation, information-gathering and monitoring efforts.

Colombians reelected President Alvaro Uribe and Vice President Francisco Santos in the first round, with 64% of votes cast. This was the first time that Colombia had reelected a leader for a second consecutive term. The OAS also monitored the country’s March 12 legislative elections.

Murray said the mission underscored the OAS commitment to reaffirm the region’s solidarity with the Colombian people, government and political actors in defending its democracy against ongoing adverse conditions.

“While it is known that Colombia is undergoing a difficult situation in terms of public order, which includes assassinations, intimidation and kidnappings by groups operating outside the law, this electoral process demonstrated improved conditions for campaigning, which in contrast to previous elections, allowed the different candidates to carry out some public activities,” states the report Murray presented.

Despite what was perceived as citizen apathy and the fears of electoral authorities that Colombians would not participate, more than 12 million people went to the polls in a completely normal atmosphere to cast their votes, Murray said. While the abstention rate was reported around 54.89%, he said this was consistent with Colombia’s democratic history, since under its Constitution the vote is not obligatory.


ELECTIONS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Rubén Perina, who headed the mission that observed legislative and municipal elections in the Dominican Republic, also presented an oral report to the Permanent Council. Dominican citizens went to the polls on May 16 to elect 176 representatives, 32 senators, 151 mayors and 756 members of municipal councils.

The report presented by Perina said that the elections took place under normal conditions and that in the majority of places observed, citizens were able to freely exercise their right to vote. Turnout was around 56%, a historically high figure for municipal and legislative elections. However, the report noted, the 70-member observation mission found that the vote scrutiny, as well as the transmission and tally of results, proceeded at a slow pace. The mission remained in the country until the resolution of some discrepancies that arose due to the close margin of results.

During the Permanent Council meeting, chaired by Ambassador Henry Illes of Suriname, the delegations of all three countries thanked the OAS for its role in observing their national elections. OAS observation missions are sent at the invitation of the countries holding elections.

Reference: E-146/06