Brussels, 04/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The EU has officially received an invitation to send an electoral observation mission to Algeria, where presidential elections are to be held on 17 April. The reply given appears to be less than unequivocally favourable.
The EU raises difficulties related to the timetable: “in line with our methodology, we would not be able to deploy a full electoral observation mission so late”, explained Michael Mann, the spokesperson to Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the EU.
However, he added, “in view of the political importance of Algeria, we are looking into options to commit ourselves further”, a promise which comes with a condition - that the recommendations of the electoral observation mission of 2012 (general elections), led by the MEP José Salafranca (EPP, Spain), be acted upon. In 2012, the mission noted problems in fully carrying out its duties in verifying the correct unfolding of the elections, because it was denied access to the central electoral register. The European Parliament confirms that it agrees with the Commission and that it has so far not made any preparations. In general, a rapporteur is appointed before being put in charge of the EU mission. However, it is also a possibility for MEPs to put themselves forward individually, more as witnesses on the ground than as official EU observers.
This can be seen as a polite refusal on the part of the EU to get involved in an exercise in which there would “only be a drubbing to take” in a fairly unstable Algerian political climate. Breaking his initial promises, the Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is standing for a fourth term in office, which has led to considerable opposition throughout the country. (FB)