26/09/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 26 September, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced that in response to the invitation of the Malagasy authorities, the European Union has started the deployment of its Election Observation Mission (EOM-EU) to Madagascar, to observe the country's presidential elections on 7 November (and on 19 December in the case of a second round). The same day, Mogherini appointed Cristian Dan Preda MEP (EPP, Romania) as the chief observer of the EOM-EU to Madagascar. She said she was confident the EOM-EU would provide "an important contribution to the strengthening of democracy in Madagascar, to the benefit of all citizens". The core EOM-EU team, consisting of 9 analysts, arrived in Antananarivo on 22 September and will stay in the country until the completion of the electoral process. They will be joined by 40 long-term observers to be deployed across the country, and further 46 short-term observers will be deployed around Election Day. (AN)