CA polls met not all international standards: EU

European Union today said the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections held on April 10 met many international standards but not fully in some areas such as the right of freedom of assembly, freedom of movement and freedom of expression.

Speaking at a press meet Thursday morning, chief of the EU Election Observation Mission and Member of European Parliament Jan Mulder said the campaigning environment was tense across the country and there were numerous incidents of violence involving political parties.

He further said the role played by parties' agents and volunteers on the election day went sometimes beyond acceptable standards and at times their influence was too great at polling stations.

But he appreciated the Nepali people's enthusiasm as they turned out in large numbers at polling stations demonstrating support for the return to multiparty democracy.

"The legal framework generally provided for a democratic and inclusive election process although has a number of shortcomings that are not fully in line with best practice including a consolidated election act, clear deadlines for the publication of results and lack of clarity in the mechanism for appeals. The Election Commission acted as an independent body with integrity and competence in a largely transparent manner consulting political parties and other stakeholders on issues," he added.

EU has recommended that electoral legislation should be consolidated bringing the divers range of legal provisions into a single act and a broad national debate should consider reforming and simplifying the electoral system that ensures inclusiveness of social and religious groups.

It said regulations should include requirements for greater security and transparency measures in the tabulation and results processand that the political parties should make a real commitment to end the culture of coercive campaigning and allow voters the freedom of choice.

Further, EU suggested for comprehensive review of the voters' registration and modernisation of the civil registry and the introduction of a national identification card to improve the quality of voters' registry. At the government's call, EU established its observation mission which opened on March 2 and worked until May 10 2008. EU was the first international mission to say that CA polls were held fairly. nepalnews.com ia Oct 16 08