Brussels, 25/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Tunisian authorities organised an “equitable and transparent” electoral process and the country's legislation proposes an appropriate framework in which to ensure free elections according to international standards, it was underlined on Tuesday 25 October by the head of the EU electoral observation mission, Michael Gahler (EPP, Germany), and the head of the European Parliament delegation, Gabriele Albertini (EPP, Italy), although the official election results had not yet been announced.
Gahler highlighted the large turnout, the large number of electoral lists, and the positive role played by the media, which gave balanced coverage of all candidates. “There were only minor irregularities”, Gahler said, including regarding the rules for funding the electoral campaign - something which is “very complicated and difficult to keep in check”. The high courts in the country also used different criteria for accepting candidates. “These errors were corrected by the appeal courts”, Gahler explained. There were also breaches of the rule of electoral campaign silence on the eve of elections. Gahler warned that “Tunisians all have appeal instruments. If that happens, we shall follow the way authorities deal with appeals”.
Gabriele Albertini of Italy added that “some imperfections were inevitable”. “Despite the difficult situation, the independent high court for elections successfully managed to do what it had promised, in a general climate of confidence”, he said, underlining that “major improvements” are to be envisaged, for example when it comes to the procedure for voter registration, the management of non-attached members, and the presenting of ballots at the urns.
The president of the European Parliament congratulated the people of Tunisia saying he was very pleased that these first democratic elections in Tunisia unfolded without violence or hatred. This, Jerzy Buzek, stressed on Monday 24 October, is a major step towards democracy, which began nine months ago with the ousting of Ben Ali. He went on to say he hoped the newly elected constituent assembly, and the coming new government, would be very successful.
“These elections are a first step towards democracy”, said Albertini. Those elected will now have the heavy task of drawing up the constitution. That is why, Albertini said in a press release on 24 October, he hopes they will be able to infuse the necessary democratic spirit to lay the foundations for a peaceful settlement in Tunisia able to meet the legitimate aspirations of its people.
Albertini went on to say that the European Parliament is ready to establish relations with the new elected representatives of Tunisia, within the delegation for relations with the Maghreb and within the foreign affairs committee. (DD/CG/transl.jl)