EU observers say Lebanese elections went smoothly, still room for improvement
- hace 6 años
Beirut, May 8 (EFE), (Camera: Isaac J. Martin).- The chief observer from the European Union observation mission to Lebanon on Tuesday said the country's 2018 parliamentary elections went smoothly overall, but added that additional improvements were necessary.
During a press conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut, Elena Valenciano said more could be done to improve women's participation, by praised the fact that Sunday's elections were for the most part free of violence.
"According to what we observed, the election process was well-managed and transparent, except these few incidents of violence or confrontation, and we managed to monitor the whole process," Valenciano told EFE after the press conference.
"But it's clear also that more needs to be done to facilitate the participation of women in politics in this country," Valenciano said during her speech.
"Affirmative measures were not included in the electoral law agreed in 2017 and, despite the big increase in female candidates in 2018 (86), and the small increase in female MPs (6), there is room for further representation."
The Spanish member of the European Parliament is expected to present the final report on the elections to the Lebanese authorities within two months.
Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system requires the prime minister be a Sunni Muslim, while the speaker of parliament must be a Shiite Muslim and the president a Maronite Christian.
The preliminary results showed the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its political allies made major gains in Sunday's elections, the country's first in nine years.
The elections came after parliamentary terms were extended three times - in 2013, 2014 and 2017 - due to political instability caused by the war in neighboring Syria.
SHOT LIST: FOOTAGE OF EU PRESS CONFERENCE.
Keywords: efe,eu,lebanon,elections
During a press conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut, Elena Valenciano said more could be done to improve women's participation, by praised the fact that Sunday's elections were for the most part free of violence.
"According to what we observed, the election process was well-managed and transparent, except these few incidents of violence or confrontation, and we managed to monitor the whole process," Valenciano told EFE after the press conference.
"But it's clear also that more needs to be done to facilitate the participation of women in politics in this country," Valenciano said during her speech.
"Affirmative measures were not included in the electoral law agreed in 2017 and, despite the big increase in female candidates in 2018 (86), and the small increase in female MPs (6), there is room for further representation."
The Spanish member of the European Parliament is expected to present the final report on the elections to the Lebanese authorities within two months.
Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system requires the prime minister be a Sunni Muslim, while the speaker of parliament must be a Shiite Muslim and the president a Maronite Christian.
The preliminary results showed the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its political allies made major gains in Sunday's elections, the country's first in nine years.
The elections came after parliamentary terms were extended three times - in 2013, 2014 and 2017 - due to political instability caused by the war in neighboring Syria.
SHOT LIST: FOOTAGE OF EU PRESS CONFERENCE.
Keywords: efe,eu,lebanon,elections