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OAS MISSION INITIATES OBSERVATION OF THE SECOND ROUND

The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American State (OAS), under the leadership of Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, is initiating its activities with respect to the second round elections to be held on June 4.

The office of the Mission is in the process of establishment, and will count on the participation of over 100 international observers from various countries across the hemisphere.

The Mission reiterates the interest of the hemispheric community in the unfolding of the electoral process, which the people of Peru, in full exercise of their sovereignty, are undertaking in accord with the principles of the the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

Dr. Axworthy indicates that through his contact with different sectors of political life he can attest to the firm will of Peruvian society to oversee and strengthen democratic institutions by means of free, fair and open elections, without external interference by governments of international actors that would affect the full exercise their political rights. Peruvians are the only agents of this electoral process.

Moreover, the Mission recognizes that democracy is more than a set of rules, it also depends on how people behave—including the mass media, the political parties, public officials, and foreign governments. Peru has adopted limits on what public officials can say and do during the electoral process. These rules should be respected. It is all the more important that foreign governments respect the right of voters to freely exercise the right of suffrage without undue influence.

Having held meetings with the nation’s election authorities, political and social actors, candidates and civil society organizations, the Mission has acquired first hand knowledge of the evaluations and concerns these sectors expressed with regard to the electoral exercise of April 9, as well as the progress in the unfolding of the electoral calendar for the second round.

It is important to note that the most relevant concerns expressed regarded the vote scrutiny, counting, and recording of results once the election was concluded. The Mission will pay special attention to the need to deploy observers throughout different points around the country. It will consult with the election authorities and the two parties in competition in the second round to find the best way to ensure proper scrutiny. The Mission recognizes that the second round will be even more intense and the feelings generated by the campaign will require even greater vigilance by the Mission.

Dr. Lloyd Axworthy expresses his satisfaction with the effort made to implement the recommendations that were made by the Mission as a result of the first round of the election. In this sense, he notes progress achieved on issues such as the security provided to the candidates, the need for equitable access to polls by all voters, access to voting booths by handicapped persons, and improvements in the training of election officers and members of voting booths.

Lima, Perú , May 9, 2006

Reference: E-PERU/06