Doc. 10983

27 June 2006

Global elections day

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Szabó and others

      The basic pillar of democracy is to have free and fair elections in every country. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights enshrined the right to vote as a basic human right in 1948. The establishment of general and equal suffrage, direct and secret voting is such a great value for mankind that it has to be considered by every politician, civil servant and the electorate as a direction given to democracy. Elections are a necessary means of checking the state power, ensuring that parliaments and governments in office serve the interest of both the society and the individual.

      The fair and transparent conduct of elections, the prevention of fraud and the ensuring of legal remedy processes are highly important duties of the election experts. Political and social values may only be realised if the legitimacy of elections is unquestionable. The challenge we as election administrators face is to make democratic elections a fundamental pillar of democracy in every country.

      In light of the above the Assembly encourages the initiative to hold an annual Global Elections Day on the first Thursday of February every year. The original idea was prepared by the Hungary-based Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials) ACEEEO), having participatory status at the Council of Europe.

      The main goals of this day are:

1.       confirming our belief in the last strength of democratic processes;

2.       informing the public of new achievements and challenges related to various types of voting systems;

3.       calling the attention of parliaments, governments;

4.       convincing politicians and world leaders about the important leadership role they play in promoting a culture of democracy and high levels of voter participation and influencing first-time voters and young voters to commit themselves to democratic values.

The Assembly requests the Committee of Ministers to give support to this initiative and to raise this issue in order to put it on the agenda of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

• SZABÓ, Zoltán, Hungary, SOC
• ALMÁSSY, Kornél, Hungary, EPP/CD
• BRAUN, Márton, Hungary, EPP/CD
• CZINEGE, Imre, Hungary, SOC
• GADZINOWSKI, Piotr, Poland, SOC
• GEDEI, József, Hungary, SOC
• GIRZYŃSKI, Zbigniew, Polond, EDG
• GLĂVAN, Stefan, Romania, ALDE
• GLIGORIĆ, Tihomir, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SOC
• KARSKI, Karol, Poland, NR
• KELEMEN, András, Hungary, EPP/CD
• LIBICKI, Jan Filip, Poland, NR
• MARKOWSKI, Tomasz, Poland, EDG
• MATUŠIĆ, Frano, Croatia, EPP/CD
• MILIĆEVIĆ, Ljiljana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, EPP/CD
• RAU, Zbigniew, Poland, NR
• SEVERIN, Adrian, Romania, SOC
• TOMASZEWSKA, Ewa, Poland, NR
• TXUEKA, Iñaki, Spain, ALDE
• WACH, Piotr, Poland, EPP/CD

¹ SOC: Socialist Group
      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
      EDG: European Democratic Group
      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
      NR: not registered in a group