Unlike many countries around the world, which opted for democracy following political and social unrest, Bhutan, he said, was introducing the process at a time of unprecedented peace and against the will of the people, who chose to be guided by the wise and visionary monarchs.“There’s no doubt about the success of this new process,” said Mr Pomes. “In our observations so far, most of the processes comply with international standards.”

A team of 15 observers from 13 different EU countries arrived in the country to observe, among others, the campaign environment, the role of media, the work of election administration and women’s participation in the historic process.

While six of the 15 observers will be based in the capital, nine will be spread across the country in pairs, each covering five regions in Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashigang and Bumthang.

“Each pair will cover between 10 to 15 of the over 800 polling stations in the country, depending on difficulty and distance of the polling stations,” said Mr Pomes.

He said that they normally sent observers in twos to ensure balance in views, analyses and observations. “That is why we have observers from 13 different EU countries,” he said.

While the team will keep note of the degree of access parties and their candidates have in the media, by allocation of time on television and space in print media, they will also look into which party or candidate refuses interviews and advertisements in which media or their preference for one particular media organization over others.

The election observers will follow all steps of the process, meeting parties, candidates, election officials and the general electorate to compile an in-depth and comprehensive report on the entire process.

“Our mission is to meet every Bhutanese citizen interested in the process,” said the deputy chief observer, Luis Martinez Betanzos.

He added that they would issue a preliminary statement of the report, based on election observation mission’s preliminary assessments of the process, following the Election Day. The final comprehensive report with recommendations would be issued two months after the end of elections.

“That would be very useful for the country in terms of preparing and conducting the next election,” said another EU election observer.

Members of EU Election Observation Mission address the media 

Source: Kuensel