High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell has appointed MEP György Hölvényi, Member of the European Parliament, as Chief Observer of the Mission, reported the European External Action Service in a press release on Wednesday.
In response to the invitation by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the European Union has decided to deploy an EU Election Observation Mission to observe the parliamentary elections. MEP György Hölvényi said, “I am truly honoured to have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading this important mission. My hope is that our work can help to foster confidence and further reinforce the democratic process in the country with a view to a genuine and Lebanese-led reform process, and that these elections will contribute to the security and stability of the country.”
In his press release, the MEP stressed that he looks forward to working with all Lebanese stakeholders, including state authorities, political parties, candidates, religious leaders and representatives, civil society organisations as well as both national international election observers.
Josep Borrell underlined: “The EU has been committed to assisting Lebanon’s electoral process by providing significant financial, technical and political support for their preparation. A constructive participation of all political forces in the upcoming elections will be of key importance for the country and all the Lebanese people,” he stressed.
The Core Team of election analysts, based in Beirut, will arrive end of March and consist of 10 election experts covering the different aspects of the electoral process. Mid-April 30 long-term observers will join the mission and will be deployed in the regions to follow the political campaign. Thereafter, 40 short-term observers will join the mission around Election Day to observe the polling, voting and counting. Other short-term observers recruited within the EU diplomatic community in Lebanon would also reinforce the mission on Election Day.
In line with the EU methodology on election observation, the mission will hold a press conference in Beirut 48 hours after Election Day to issue its preliminary statement of findings. Once the entire electoral process is concluded, the mission will publish a final report, which will include a final assessment of the electoral process and a set of recommendations for reforms to improve future elections. This will be the fourth time that the EU deploys an Election Observation Mission in Lebanon.
The Middle Eastern country has been ruled since last September by a government led by billionaire businessman Najib Mikati, which was formed after 13 months of internal political stalemate. The Beirut leadership promised the UN in December that elections would be held this year.
Lebanon has been facing a severe political, economic and financial crisis since 2019, exacerbated by the Beirut port explosion in August 2020, which killed more than 200 people and caused immense material damage.
