MONROVIA, Liberia – The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has lauded the transparent and well-handled elections, emphasizing the peaceful and vibrant democratic spirit that prevailed throughout the election day.
Andreas Schieder, the Chief Observer of the EU EOM and a Member of the European Parliament, commended the technical preparations and the execution of the election process.
At a press conference in Monrovia, he noted that while the campaign had been marked by concerns of unequal access to platforms and state resources favoring the incumbent party, the election day itself ran smoothly, with voters exercising their democratic rights.
“Liberian voters demonstrated commitment to the democratic process by participating in great numbers, and the press was free to cover all sides of the campaign,” Schieder remarked. He acknowledged that the use of government resources did provide an advantage to the incumbency but emphasized that the election day itself was well-administered.
EU EOM observers, numbering 100 in total, reported from over 417 polling places in rural and urban areas across 14 out of the 15 counties in Liberia. The observers noted that the election day was calm and well-conducted. However, they also reported that voters had to endure long waiting times due to the high turnout, as cumbersome procedures and their implementation slowed the conduct of polls.
Leopoldo Lopez Gil, Head of Delegation of Members of the European Parliament, urged all political leaders to accept the election’s outcome and address any disputes through peaceful legal means, emphasizing the importance of respecting the rule of law.
Schieder pointed out that the results tabulation process was still ongoing, and the EU EOM would continue to observe the process, including the handling of complaints and appeals. He also stated that Liberia’s legal framework provided a reasonable basis for the conduct of democratic elections. However, it did not fully guarantee voters’ right to an effective legal remedy. Despite some minor incidents, campaign freedoms were largely respected in terms of freedom of assembly, speech, opinion, and media, although the campaign was marked by a high level of monetization and bartering.
The EU EOM further noted that the respect of campaign finance regulations by contestants was limited, and there was no enforcement of these regulations by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The EU EOM will present a Final Report with recommendations to the public at a later stage.
The mission was invited by the Liberian authorities to observe the 2023 General Elections, and it has been conducting long-term, independent, and impartial observation in accordance with a strict code of conduct.