Daily Telegraph reports OSCE Election help today 22nd April

Daily Telegraph doesn't like the OSCE coming...

"There is another consideration. We are likely to have the Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights here to monitor this general election.

How humiliating that is for a country that has supposed it was a model for those aspiring to parliamentary democracy."


The Times reported last week..."Last week the OSCE announced that it would be sending a 10-strong team to Britain to monitor the election for a week before polling day. It is believed to be the first time that a British general election will be subject to formal international monitoring."

In this context it is interesting to view the Welsh Office report of 16 April, 2003

ELECTION EXPERTS COME TO WALES

International election advisers are visiting Wales next week as part of an assessment mission which is looking at May’s elections to the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly.

Officials from the Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights will hold discussions with a wide range of individuals involved in the electoral process. Meetings are planned with the Electoral Commission, electoral administrators, and media figures, as well as candidates and other representatives of political parties. There will also be a visit to the Assembly Chamber in Cardiff Bay.

They will be in Wales on Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, before moving on to Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Welcoming the visit, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain (the man with the tan from the can)said:

"The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights plays a key role in promoting the principles of democracy, not only within the territories of its own participating states but also in other parts of the world where new democratic structures are being developed.

"I very much hope that their assessment mission will result in good practices from Wales being adopted in other democracies. At the same time, we will be happy to look closely at any suggestions they may have for enhancing our own arrangements."

Note - A granny guilty of supplying cannabis is standing for the Legalise Cannabis Party against Leader of the Commons Peter Hain in Wales. Mr Hain in his student days never of course consumed any of the vile weed...