Free and fair election “major responsibility” for govt. authorities : EU Chief Observer

Free and fair elections are a major responsibility for government authorities, EU Chief Observer Marisa Matias told Times Online on the eve of Presidential Elections.

“We are always concerned about how transparent and inclusive an election can be,” Matias, who heads the EU Election Monitoring Mission (EOM) in Sri Lanka, told Times Online.

The EU has deployed five monitoring teams previously, the latest during the parliamentary election in 2015, on which its monitoring mission submitted 26 recommendations.

Sri Lankan authorities have only fully implemented three recommendations so far. “They are to be implemented if the country needs to implement them,” Matias said.

She pointed out that it is not the EU, but instead all parties mentioned in EU EOM reports who are the owners of the recommendations.

Matias, a member of the EU parliament, contested the Portuguese presidential election in 2016, becoming the only female to have garnered the highest votes in the country’s history.

Commenting on women’s involvement in politics, she lamented that there are  “obstacles” and “discrimination” towards women in all spheres and not just politics.

However she said “it is important to participate to have a fair society”.

The Chief Observer noted that the election process should be inclusive to the differently-abled and also those living in remote areas.

Matias stated that more than 80 observers including short-term and long-term observers will monitor tomorrow’s election during the voting process and even after the voting as well.

“We have a core team which is composed of nine members. They will stay till December 12,” she noted.

“We receive reporting from the long-term observers and short-term observers everyday and in several moments on the day of the election”.