Dili, 11 July 2022 - A delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission to Timor-Leste, led by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Chief of Mission Mr. Domènec Ruiz Devesa, arrived on Monday 11 July in Dili to deliver the report with the final conclusions of the observation of the presidential elections in Timor-Leste held on the 19 March with a run-off on the 19 April 2022. The report also includes a list of recommendations to improve future elections. 

As part of his return to Timor-Leste for the presentation of the final report, Mr. Ruiz Devesa will meet with Timorese authorities and representatives of the Timorese institutions, the electoral management bodies, the Court of Appeal, political parties and civil society, to exchange views on the content of the final report and explore possible ways to implement the recommendations.

"We return again to Timor-Leste with the final report produced after the elections. This report contains priority recommendations based on international, regional and national obligations and commitments on the conduct of democratic elections which Timor-Leste has subscribed to for a possible comprehensive and lasting reform in line with the expectations of the Timorese people", said the MEP.

These are the five recommendations considered to be priorities in the final report of the European Union Election Observation Mission to Timor-Leste 2022:

 

1. Consolidate all electoral legislation into a consistent and unified Electoral Code, with accompanying electoral regulations, available in Portuguese and Tetun.

2. Undertake legal reform, including introduction of regulations, early enough in the electoral cycle to provide stakeholders time to understand and prepare for the new rules.

3. Consult the National Elections Commission (CNE) in a consistent and systematic manner when preparing the regulatory framework for elections.

4. Strengthen campaign finance oversight by giving the CNE a clear competency in this field and empower this body to take a more assertive and proactive role.

5. Review campaign finance rules and reporting requirements to strengthen equality, transparency, and accountability in the electoral process.

The European Union Election Observation Mission to Timor-Leste 2022 will organise this Thursday 14 July, in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union in Timor-Leste, a round table discussion on the future of the implementation of the recommendations with the main actors of the electoral process.

Final report of the EU Election Observation Mission in TimorLeste is available in:

English - https://lnkd.in/dcvJJ3hE

Portuguese - https://lnkd.in/drEWq7-U

Tetum - https://lnkd.in/dkAR-eUY