Three Dutch, Romanian and Egyptian organizations form joint teams to follow up the advertising and voting stages

Within the framework of the statement issued by the National Elections Authority in Egypt, partner institutions for transparency in Egypt, the European Youth Organization (Netherlands), and Human Act (Romania) agreed to form and manage a joint Egyptian-European mission to follow up the Egyptian parliamentary elections 2020, which the commission called for in early September Ongoing.

The three organizations had obtained a permit from the National Elections Authority last July allowing them to follow the Egyptian elections for a year, and consultations between the three organizations began early in September to discuss all organizational and logistical arrangements related to following up the electoral process in light of Egyptian laws and the decisions of the National Authority. For elections and in compliance with generally accepted international standards for election monitoring.

Alexia Kakoru, head of the Dutch European Youth Organization, stated that the Egyptian parliamentary elections are of great importance to Egypt and the Egyptians, and they also occupy the interest of European countries as they are the most important political and economic partner to Egypt. Therefore, a number of European organizations took the initiative to apply to participate in the follow-up of the electoral process, and coordination was made with the Foundation Partners for transparency that adopts a distinct and unique pattern in following up the electoral processes in Egypt, as well as the Human Act organization interested in issues of political and societal freedoms to form a joint mission that includes Egyptian and European parties, which represents an added value to the election follow-up activities.

For her part, Mihaela Visa, head of the Romanian Human Act, said that her organization is interested in following up the Egyptian elections, and despite the travel restrictions imposed as a result of the Corona pandemic, the organization was keen to participate, be present and share with the great Egyptian people, one of its most important political entitlements in recent years. The National Elections Authority has the right to be open to European parties and to facilitate the participation of a large number of active organizations in the follow-up to the Egyptian Parliament elections, and affirmed the coalition's absolute keenness regarding adherence to the national laws and regulations organized during the monitoring, follow-up and reporting processes.

Mirna Shalash also stated that the Egyptian-European Alliance will follow the electoral propaganda phase and the voting, polling and counting phase in a number of governorates during the first and second election phases, and indicated that the methodology of the coalition’s work in following up the propaganda phase will focus on monitoring and evaluating the electoral spending of the candidates and the electoral lists and ensuring that the ceiling and nature are adhered to. And the legal spending procedures, as well as monitoring any phenomena related to the legal rules for the advertising stage, as regulated by the laws on the exercise of political rights and the House of Representatives.

With regard to the voting and counting stage, Mirna Shalash assured that the coalition will support the participation of joint teams that include international and local observers and translators, as these teams will visit and inspect a number of polling stations and committees during the voting stage and evaluate the external and internal environment for the procedures of voting and counting in the sub-committees in accordance with the provisions of the law. And decisions of the National Election Commission.

For his part, Ahmed Al-Sukari, a journalist and media spokesperson for the coalition, stated that it is planned that the coalition will issue a package of reports and statements and share them with the media and public opinion during the next phase, as a report will be issued after the end of the propaganda phase in each round that includes the coalition's evaluation of the procedures and progress of the propaganda process. Adequate statements will also be issued after the end of each voting day, as well as a final report that includes all observations and axes of the mission’s evaluation of the electoral process.

Al-Sukkari emphasized that the Egyptian-European Alliance to follow up on the Egyptian Parliamentary Elections 2020 is based on joint efforts and experiences from European and Egyptian parties, each of whom has their own experience in following up the electoral entitlements in several countries, which will contribute to strengthening the culture of election follow-up in Egypt and will enhance the integrity of electoral processes and motivate citizens. To share.

Al-Sukari revealed that the coalition will form an operations room in Cairo with the start of the voting and counting procedures in the first phase on October 24, 2020, and communication channels with the coalition will be shared with media institutions and journalists interested in following the electoral process in Egypt.