The OSCE won’t observe the Finnish parliamentary election

Press release 33/2007
22 February 2007

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) sees no need to observe the Finnish parliamentary election. An evaluation group from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE visited Finland at the turn of January–February and reviewed the Finnish election laws, campaigning, the registration of voters and the information disseminated about elections. The group met representatives of various bodies, such as election committees, political parties, the media, and civil society organizations.

On the basis of its findings, the evaluation group considers that the OSCE has no need to observe the Finnish parliamentary election to be held on 18 March. The evaluation group also refers to Finland’s parliamentary tradition dating back one hundred years and to the general confidence in democratic elections.

All 56 participating States of the OSCE are committed to inviting international observers to follow their elections. In practice, election observation is carried out by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The visit by the evaluation group was arranged by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.

Further information: Aleksi Härkönen, Head of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 9 1605 5496, +358 41 549 7606