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Russia Election alert # 3 - Constitutional amendments in Russia – risk of a legal chaos

February 13, 2020

On January 20, 2020, the president of Russia submitted to the State Duma a draft law on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation. To pass these amendments, authorities have also proposed to call an "all-Russian vote". These attempts to amend the constitution by calling such a vote instead of through existing legal procedures like a referendum raise serious concerns among Russian election experts about the legality of the constitutional change.

more ... Election alert # 3 - Constitutional amendments in Russia – risk of a legal chaos

Azerbaijan Pressure against independent observers, candidates and journalists during and since elections

February 12, 2020

EMDS notes that observers, candidates, and journalists faced various cases of pressure and violence by representatives of the election commission and law enforcement authorities during the voting and counting process. To file complaints on these incidents, the CEC requires original documentation rather than copies of documents, which poses the risk of the claimant losing this original document and not being able to pursue legal action again concerning this incident.

more ... Pressure against independent observers, candidates and journalists during and since elections

Germany Stricter regulation of election campaign financing and party donations needed in electoral law reform

February 11, 2020

The German Bundestag is currently discussing a reform of the electoral law in order to curb further enlargement of the parliament and increase the proportion of women in parliament. EPDE's Chairperson, Stefanie Schiffer, explains that a reform of the current electoral law must also include stricter rules for campaign financing and transparency rules for the publication of campaign donations, which have long since ceased to meet international standards.

more ... Stricter regulation of election campaign financing and party donations needed in electoral law reform

Georgia Planned amendments to the election code threaten transparency of elections

CEC and the parliamentary legal affairs committee initiated a dubious bill in Parliament bypassing the electoral reform working group. This bill contains problematic provisions that could undermine transparency of elections by delaying public access to polling station protocols and opening up loopholes to bypass the vote buying regulations.

more ... Planned amendments to the election code threaten transparency of elections

Azerbaijan Widespread violations and significantly lower turnout recorded during the early Parliamentary elections

EMDS recorded similar violations on E-Day that have occurred in previous elections - one person voting multiple times, bussing of voters, ballot-box stuffing, and voting without registration. These violations were widespread and deliberate. Turnout figures counted by observers were significantly lower than the figures released by the CEC. EMDS believes that violations recorded during all stages of these elections made it impossible for the elections to be fair and free.

more ... Widespread violations and significantly lower turnout recorded during the early Parliamentary elections

Azerbaijan Increased pressure against civil society and candidates ahead of Sunday's elections

EMDS notes that there have been cases of pressure against civil society, political activists, candidates, and their relatives in both stages of the early Parliamentary elections taking place 9 February. The government failed to demonstrate any political will to release more than 100 people who are in jail with politically motivated charges as a result of increased political repression over the last few years.

more ... Increased pressure against civil society and candidates ahead of Sunday's elections

Georgia Democratic backsliding in Georgia - need to adopt proportional electoral system

Multiple NGOs in Georgia, including EPDE member ISFED, continue to call on the ruling Georgian Dream party to adopt the promised proportional electoral system. The political environment is incredibly tense in the country and there is increasing polarization in the public, which will have a negative effect on the pre-electoral environment and the day of the Parliamentary elections.

more ... Democratic backsliding in Georgia - need to adopt proportional electoral system

Azerbaijan Restrictions on political freedoms and violations against opposition continue ahead of early Parliamentary elections

EMDS observed during its LTO that restrictions on political freedoms and the freedom of speech continue ahead of the 9 February 2020 early Parliamentary Elections and that the current Election Code does not provide for a genuine competitive environment. Numerous violations concerning the nomination and registration of candidates, predominantly against opposition candidates, were also observed.

more ... Restrictions on political freedoms and violations against opposition continue ahead of early Parliamentary elections

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