The European Union Election Observation Mission in Liberia (EU-EOM) has released preliminary report on the just ended November 14, 2023 Presidential Run-off Election, terming the process as largely peaceful.
The Mission noted that the 20 days of run-off campaign was largely peaceful and quiet as both candidates focused mostly on announcing endorsements from first round unsuccessful presidential and legislative candidates.
Addressing a press conference in Monrovia Thursday, November 16, 2023, EU Deputy Chief Observer Jarek M Domanski stated that the first round was a personality-driven campaign with a notable lack of issue-based activities or debates.
According to him, freedom of the press and of opinion continued to be respected during the run-off campaign period but state owned media continued to offer most of their news coverage to the incumbent. Closer to the run-off date, derogatory speech, inflammatory language and misleading contents intensified on social media.
He averred that political freedom of candidates and supporters were largely respected, but the use of state resources by the ruling party continued to distort the level playing field.
Domanski further noted that the EU EOM values the contribution from all stakeholders involved in the election process. Domanski told the gathering that Election Day was generally calm, although a few minor incidents involving physical violence occurred across the country.
He further noted polling proceeded smoothly and orderly and was assessed positively as well-organized in the overwhelming majority of polling places observed.
“The voting process was marked by numerous instances of party agents keeping track of voters’ data, raising concerns over undue influence or intimidation of voters,” Domanski asserted. He indicated that the counting was mostly conducted efficiently, accurately and in a transparent manner, but important reconciliation steps were often omitted in an effort to speed up the process.
The EU Deputy Chief Observer indicated that the NEC efficiently managed the election preparations for the second round and improved its public communication though the atmosphere of low stakeholders’ confidence remained.
Meanwhile, the EU-EOM has appealed to both the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and Unity Party candidates and their supporters to show restraint and wait patiently for the announcement of the results by the National Elections Commission.
“Should anyone wish to dispute them, they should do so peacefully, according to the established legal procedures”, said the Head of the Delegation of the European Parliament, Mr. Leopoldo López Gil.
