A mission by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that will observe Polish parliamentary elections on October 21, will consist of 11 international experts, announced head of the mission in Poland Julian Peel Yates on Tuesday.Yates pointed out that the observers will be active until and during the ballot in the capital city but also in other places across Poland. The mission will also monitor Polish media.
“Taking into consideration the number of the mission members we can’t even think of observing the electing process in the broad sense, but we will travel and carry out random checks at polling stations,” said Yates.
He added that the mission will produce a final report on the elections. It is to be published 6-8 weeks later. “If the need arises, the report will include recommendations – if we find any issues that could require improvement,” the head of the OSCE mission stressed.
Yates assures also that the mission is monitoring the elections in Poland on invitation from the Polish government. He said that this is a standard mission, as Poland already is an “established democracy”.
The Polish government rejected the invitation initially, feeling insulted that elections in Poland should have to be monitored.