Beirut - The Chief Observer of the European Union's Election Observation Mission to Lebanon, Jose Ignacio Salafranca Sanchez-Neyra, said Monday that he hopes the forthcoming elections will be held in a peaceful and constructive atmosphere. "I am keenly aware that these elections are taking place in a challenging and sensitive environment and it is my sincere hope that a peaceful and constructive atmosphere will prevail when the people of Lebanon go to the polls next month," Salafranca said at the launch of the EU observation mission, which is due to observe Lebanon's parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7th, 2009.
Salafranca, a Spanish Member of the European Parliament, also led the EU Election Observation Mission to Lebanon for the 2005 parliamentary elections, which made a series of recommendations for electoral reforms.
"It is a great privilege for me to return to Lebanon to lead a European Union observer team for a second time," said Salafranca.
"We see these elections as an opportunity to further strengthen the country's democratisation process and to help provide stability in the region. Our mission is independent and impartial and our mandate is clear - it is to observe all aspects of the electoral process and to assess the extent to which the elections comply with international and regional standards for elections, as well as with domestic law," he added.
The chief observer also noted that the creation of the Supervisory Commission on the Electoral Campaign to supervise campaign finances and media spending was "a step forward, particularly if it proves to be the forerunner of a future independent and permanent national election authority."
According to the EU official almost 100 EU observers will participate in the EU Election Observation mission on election day and approximately 50 short-term observers will be deployed closer to election day, along with a delegation of Members of the European Parliament.
The EU has already donated 4 million euros (5.2 million dollars)to help Lebanon reform its electoral law. The bloc is set to spend a further 4.7 million euros on the election monitoring mission.
Lebanon is likely in the election to witness a heated race between the Western-backed ruling majority and the opposition-led Hezbollah.
