The Pacific Islands Forum will deploy an electoral observer team to the upcoming Nauru Parliamentary Election, to be held on Saturday 24 August 2019.
The Pacific Islands Forum Electoral Observer Team comprises Teokotai Joseph, Secretary of the Ministry of Corrective Services and Returning Officer of the Cook Islands Electoral Office, and Noel Bugotu, Data Manager, Solomon Islands Electoral Commission.
The team will be supported by officials from the Forum Secretariat.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor, thanked the Nauru Electoral Commission for the invitation to observe the election.
“Nauru has consistently invited the Pacific Islands Forum and other international organisations to observe Parliamentary General Elections, and I commend this commitment to electoral integrity and transparency,” said Dame Meg Taylor.
This is the fifth Forum election observer mission to Nauru, having previously observed elections in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2016.
Forum election observer missions are carried out under the 2000 Biketawa Declaration and seek to act as an independent source of analysis in the conduct and integrity of a Forum Members’ general elections and strengthening Pacific democratic processes and institutions.
During the course of its mission the Forum Election Observer Team will meet with as wide a range of stakeholders, government representatives, outgoing Members of Parliament, candidates, civil society, and faith-based organisations.