European Parliament to observe PA elections
Delegation of members of the European Parliament scheduled to travel to Palestinian territories to observe legislative elections scheduled for 25 January; delegation head says, ‘these elections take place in a highly challenging environment’
A delegation of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is set to travel to the Palestinian territories to observe the legislative elections scheduled for 25 January.
The MEPs, chaired by EP Vice-President Edward McMillan-Scott (EPP-ED, UK), will be on site from 22 January for meetings with candidates and election officials, before deploying to polling stations across the region for Election Day itself.
"I look forward to elections in Palestine to the same standard as those we witnessed in last year's presidential election. That was a model for the region, where democracy is largely absent,” McMillan-Scott said.
”We are also looking forward to Palestinians living in East Jerusalem having the same opportunity to vote as their relations elsewhere - and to seeing candidates campaigning freely there,” he added.
”These elections take place in a highly challenging environment, which we acknowledge. The importance the European Parliament attaches to their successful completion can be seen in its having again authorized a thirty member observation delegation."
