Tuesday, December 16th, 2014 

 Africa Hotel -Tunis

 

 

 

A group of civil society organizations participating  in the electoral observation mission namely  the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy , Ofiya Coalition for the Observation of the Integrity of Elections, Network Mourakiboun, Chahed Observatory, and  the organization of Youth Without Borders organized  a press conference entitled ''Recommendations of Civil Society Organizations for the Success of the Second Round of the Presidential Elections '' on Tuesday  December16, 2014 at Africa hotel in Tunis .The conference brought together  Miss. Emna Ennaifer, CSID's  Senior Program Officer , Mrs .Leila Bahria ,President of  Chahed Observatory for the Observation of Elections and Democratic Transitions ,Mr.Kamel Gharbi ,the spokesman of ''Eye on Election'' ,Mr. Rafik Halouani ,General Coordinator  of Mourakiboun and Mr. Mondher Hamdi , in charge of media relations with Youth Without Borders  alongside with a group of  Human Rights activists , representatives of CSOs and various broadcasting channels . 

 

 

Mr.Kamel Gharbi delivered the welcoming speech emphasizing the crucial role of CSOs in building democracies and achieving the success of the electoral process and the efforts that have been made to support and observe the electoral process. 

 

 

 

Recommendations:

 

In the effort to achieve successfully their electoral observation mission, this groups of CSOs drew up the following set of recommendations to the electoral administration, candidates, voters, media and decision makers from government.

 

Electoral administration should:

-Ensure the neutrality of the presidents of the voting centers and polling stations .

-Urge the presidents of the polling stations to take immediate action against the violations committed during the voting process and to call the police in high tension situations.

-Prompt the Prime Minister and the ministry of Internal Affairs to apply the electoral law with regard the violations committed outside the polling stations.

-Reassure the polling officers to count precisely the ballot papers before the beginning of the voting process in all the stations and then number them.

-Prompt the polling officers to emphasize to voters to switch their mobile phones before starting the voting process.

-Allow observers regardless of their number to attend the compilation and counting process.

-Restrict the companionship of illiterates.

 

Candidates should:

-Provide delegates in all the polling stations and effectively train them.

-Refrain from any campaigning on the Election Day and respect the electoral silence.

-Commit to the electoral law and fight political money use on  vote buying.

 

Voters should:

-Move massively to the polling stations respecting the code of conduct and regulations by the current electoral code.

-Refrain from any type of campaigning and respect the electoral silence.

-Inform the presidents of the polling centers in case of any threat or any ploy to try to buy votes.

-Abide by the electoral law and leave the polling stations after the voting operation.

 

Media should:

-Commit to the electoral law during the electoral campaign and respect principles of equality and non-discrimination between candidates.

-Not promote for discourses inciting to violence and hatred and threatening the social peace and the national unity.

 

Government and Ministry of Internal Affairs should:

-Strictly apply the law and submit those responsible for the electoral crimes especially buying votes.

-Give instructions to security officers to address anu violations commited inside and outside the polling stations.