EU to send observers to Lebanon for elections

BRUSSELS – The European Union (EU) will send election observers to monitor Lebanon’s May 15 parliamentary polls, the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon said in a statement on its Website 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 scheduled on May 15, 2022, the statement read.

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell has appointed György Hölvényi, Member of the European Parliament, as Chief Observer of the Mission, it added.

The team’s chief observer, Gyoergy Hoelvenyi, said in a statement it will be the fourth time the EU has sent observers to Lebanon, after previous missions in 2005, 2009 and 2018.

Borrell said the dispatch of the observer mission underlined Europe’s support of Lebanese democracy, according to the statement.

“The holding of elections is first and foremost a right and an expectation of the people of Lebanon, as well as a sovereign responsibility that the Lebanese government must follow through,” he said.

Borrell said: “The EU has been committed to assisting Lebanon’s electoral process by providing significant financial, technical and political support for their preparation. The holding of elections is first and foremost a right and an expectation of the people of Lebanon, as well as a sovereign responsibility that the Lebanese government must follow through. A constructive participation of all political forces in the upcoming elections will be of key importance for the country and all the Lebanese people.

The EU is a long-standing partner of Lebanon in supporting peace and democracy, and the presence of an Election Observation Mission is another example of this commitment. I believe the work of the EU mission will contribute to an inclusive and transparent election process and to further reinforce the democratic path and reforms in Lebanon,” according to the statement.

Chief Observer György Hölvényi said: “The European Union has supported Lebanese Parliamentary elections by sending election observation missions in 2005, 2009 and 2018. This will be the fourth time that the EU deploys an Election Observation Mission in Lebanon and I am truly honored 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. I look 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, with the goal of promoting and defending democratic values,” it read.