ODIHR releases further opinion document on new Draft Act on conduct of Presidential election
On 14 May 2020, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (hereinafter “ODIHR”) received a request from Dr. Adam Bodnar, Commissioner for Human Rights of Poland, to provide a legal opinion (hereinafter “opinion”) on the Draft Act on special rules for the organisation of the general election of the President of the Republic […]
Situation around Presidential election unconstitutional?
A campaign poster for Andrzej Duda outside a house near Warsaw. Image source: Janek Skarżyński/AFP via Getty Images Statement by the Political Accountability Foundation on amendments to the election law as of May 24, 2020 The Political Accountability Foundation (PAF) would like to express its concern regarding specific provisions included in the Act of […]
Timeline of the election chaos
Image source: notesfrompoland.com The Political Accountability Foundation released a timeline of events leading up to the non-election on 10 May in Poland. Due to last minute amendments introduced to the electoral legal framework, voters were deprived of their right to cast a vote in the presidential election on the date indicated in accordance with […]
Possible restriction of citizen observers’ rights under proposed draft act
Statement by the Political Accountability Foundation on the possible restriction of rights of citizen observers We, the Political Accountability Foundation, express our deepest concern with regard to the possible restrictions of rights of citizen observers as a result of the draft „Detailed Rules on the General Election of President of the Republic of Poland in […]
Changes to electoral law need substantial improvements to align with international democratic standards
In ODIHR’s assessment, the Draft Act requires substantial improvements to be aligned with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections. Implementation of the Draft Act within the timeframe envisaged for holding the election on 10 May 2020 would require adoption of more detailed procedural guidelines, may place an unreasonable burden on the implementing […]
High-speed changes to electoral law disregard international norms
A new draft law has been approved that provides for postal voting to be the only means for all eligible citizens to cast their vote and will replace existing electoral commissions with new ones. Experts indicate that the bill contains loopholes, inconsistencies, and legislative errors. Conducting presidential elections on its basis would not meet a […]
High-speed changes to electoral law disregard international norms
Source: Arkadiusz Stankiewicz/Agencja Gazeta/Reuters On 6 April, the Polish Sejm (lower house of the Polish parliament) approved a draft law “On special rules for the conduct of general elections for the President of the Republic of Poland scheduled in 2020”. This draft law provides for postal voting to be the only means for all elicgible […]
Electoral reform across Europe – EPDE side event at the HDIM
Photo: OSCE/Piotr Dziubak The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) will hold a side event at the upcoming 2019 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of OSCE in Warsaw. It will take place on the first day of the HDIM, on 16 September at 13.15 hours – right after the opening plenary session. The event […]
HDIM side event on electoral law reforms in Eastern Europe
We are happy to invite you to our Side Event at the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting 2018 (HDIM) in Warsaw, which will take place on Monday, 10 September 2018 from 13:15-14:45. The Side Event will focus on electoral reform in Eastern Europe, where changes to electoral laws are widely demanded by the citizen observers […]
Position of the Batory Foundation’s Teams of Experts on the Act of Law amending the Electoral Code
The Batory Foundation wishes to express a deepest concern, and to draw attention to the threats connected with the change of electoral rules implemented by the Act dated 11th January 2018 on the amendment of certain acts of law in order to enhance the citizens’ participation in the process of electing, functioning and controlling certain […]