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Recommendation 1898 (2010) Final version
Thresholds and other features of electoral systems which have an impact on representativity of parliaments in Council of Europe member states
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers
to its Resolution 1705
(2010) on thresholds and other features of electoral
systems which have an impact on representativity of parliaments
in Council of Europe member states. It also recalls its previous
resolutions and recommendations addressing different aspects of
the electoral process.
2. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers call
on the governments of member states to give appropriate follow-up
to the issues raised in Resolution
1705 (2010).
3. It recommends that the Committee of Ministers, taking advantage
of its unique position as a forum for pan-European co-operation,
contribute to the establishment of a common understanding of principles
which qualify elections as “free and fair” in compliance with democratic
standards, irrespective of the type of electoral system, and to
ensuring their implementation in all elections throughout the Council
of Europe area, thus establishing the world’s largest “free and
fair election zone”.
4. Furthermore, the Assembly invites the Committee of Ministers
to:
4.1. initiate further reflection
and work on the regulatory framework and specific regulations governing the
electoral process in Council of Europe member states, in particular
in respect to:
4.1.1. electoral commissions;
4.1.2. thresholds and any matters that could disadvantage minor
parties and independent candidates from access to elected bodies;
4.1.3. the impact of electoral systems on women’s access to elected
bodies;
4.1.4. equal access to elected bodies for persons belonging to
minorities and vulnerable groups;
4.1.5. the financing of electoral campaigns;
4.1.6. voting procedures;
4.1.7. election observation;
4.2. consider the elaboration of a consolidated version of
the principles governing electoral process.