09/04/2019 (Agence Europe) – At the Malawian authorities’ invitation, the EU will observe the general elections on 21 May in this southern African country. The Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will be led by Czech MEP Miroslav Poche (S&D), who was appointed by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. She expects the EU EOM to make “a substantial contribution to Malawi’s work to consolidate its democratic institutions” since the 2014 elections, which the EU also observed. The core team of observers has already been in the city of Blantyre since 4 April and will remain until the end of the electoral process. Twenty-eight long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in mid-April. Thirty-two short-term observers will come to assist them the eve of the election. (AN)