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OBSERVATION MISSION OF LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN HAITI

  December 15, 2009

The Organization of American States (OAS), at the request of the President of the Republic of Haiti, His Excellency Mr. René Préval, has decided to send a long-term Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to accompany the electoral processes of 2010. The OAS anticipates sending about 80 observers to the legislative elections of February 2010, and twice that number to the presidential elections of November 2010.

The objective of the Electoral Observation Mission is to accompany the electoral process, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organization of elections with the goal of reinforcing the capabilities of the Provisional Electoral Council. In this spirit, the MOE plans to conduct a follow-up to its recommendations with the goal of guaranteeing the implementation of a transparent, inclusive and democratic electoral process.

The OAS has also decided to continue to provide technical support to the Provisional Electoral Council, through training of Council officials to increase the autonomy of this body and to consolidate the durability of the aid provided until now. This training will take place after the February elections and is conceived as a necessary condition for the Council to be able to autonomously administer the electoral Registry and the tabulation Centre.

Therefore, the OAS will not be involved in the organization or implementation of elections in Haiti, as has been the case in the past. The decision to solely observe the development of the elections in Haiti during the year 2010 is based on the acknowledgement of the need for the Haitian State to equip itself with electoral institutions that are transparent, efficient, permanent and trustworthy.

Reference: E-416/09