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OAS OBSERVATION MISSION: CONDITIONS IN PLACE FOR APRIL 9 ELECTORAL PROCESS IN PERU

With two days remaining before Peru holds its general elections, the Chief of the Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS), Lloyd Axworthy, notes the following:

1. All necessary preparations have been made for the elections to take place. The Mission is confident that all elements of the electoral system will continue to work together to undertake any final preparations, coordinating their respective functions and maintaining open channels of communication, in order to ensure that the elections can take place normally.

2. With the political campaigns over and only hours before the end of the electoral contest, the OAS Mission calls on all participants in the political arena, particularly the candidates, to conduct themselves in accordance with the law, respecting the legally imposed silence during the hours leading up to the election and thus providing Peruvian citizens the opportunity for reflection before they exercise their franchise.

3. The Mission will remain vigilant throughout the installation of the polling centers, the voting process, the poll closing, the vote count, and the announcement of the summary of results by the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) and the final results declared by the National Board of Elections (JNE). It is important that candidates, representatives of political groups and citizens in general act prudently before, during and after the voting, avoiding rumors and public pronouncements that could affect the normal development of the electoral process in all its phases.

4. Noting that the public rallies to close the campaigns were carried out in a peaceful and orderly manner, the OAS Mission hopes that such conduct will help set the standard for citizens and sympathizers in the coming days.

5. Recognizing the role of the news media in covering and disseminating information about the electoral process, the Mission is confident that the media will contribute to the public calm before, during and after the voting, in addition to transmitting in a fair manner the results they obtain from exit polls.

6. The OAS Mission has deployed 126 international observers around the country, to the departments of Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huánaco, Ica, Loreto, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura, Puno and Tacna. The observers are making contacts with local participants and preparing for the observation activities they will undertake on Sunday.

7. The OAS Mission calls on Peruvian citizens to exercise their right to vote on April 9.

Reference: EOM-P-2