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OAS and Bolivia Signed Agreement for Observation of the February 21 Referendum

  February 12, 2016

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of Bolivia today signed the formal agreement by which the hemispheric institution will send an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to the constitutional reform referendum to be held in the country on February 21, which will be headed by former President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández.

Secretary General Almagro highlighted the “spirit of openness,” the capacity “to make more transparent” and “to further legitimize electoral processes” that is shown by the invitation to the OAS to send an EOM. The Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the OAS, Diego Pary, for his part, highlighted that the intention of his country in requesting the support of the Mission is “to give the citizen consultation greater transparency and strength.” The OAS Secretary General and Ambassador Pary signed the document at OAS headquarters in Washington DC.

On February 21 Bolivian citizens will decide whether to modify Article 168 of the Constitution of the country, which addresses the re-election of the President and Vice President.

Reference: E-017/16