Véronique Moreira: "Election observation begins long before polling day"

Drawing on her experience of numerous local and regional election observation missions for the Congress, Véronique Moreira (France) considers this activity to be a means of promoting local and regional democracy which goes well beyond the simple question of fair voting arrangements.

Interview – 19.07.10

Question: The observation of local and regional elections is one of the Congress' strengths.  How can it, as well as serving the interests of the countries "under observation", bring about progress in local and regional democracy throughout Europe?

Véronique Moreira: The participation by elected representatives of all different origins in observation missions is in practice beneficial to Europe as a whole, as it promotes varied and open approaches to elections… which will be useful once we have returned home.  A Serbian or Polish elected representative, for instance, will not observe a local election through the same eyes as a French or German counterpart, because each of us has differing experience.  On the other hand, the fact that we have all been elected at local or regional level and are observing elections with a local or regional dimension means that we can give thought to the identical questions which arise in our own countries.  Local and regional elected representatives all face the same challenges.  Last but not least, observation of elections of course helps the country concerned to take one more step towards democracy.

Question: Is it your impression that local and regional elections are better organised and fairer than tended to be the case a few years ago?

Véronique Moreira: I would describe the problem as being less that of the conduct of the ballot than that of its preparation and implications.  An election may be properly conducted and fair in every respect, but nevertheless be won by candidates who lack any effective power, or who are not truly representative.  In my opinion, election observation begins long before the ballot, involving observation of the responsibilities entrusted to the local and regional tiers, respect for pluralism, and study of the media and, more generally, of all the structures in the country concerned.  This is where it becomes clear how local and regional democracy can be taken forward, a very useful lesson for all countries.  It is my belief that all local and regional elected representatives should open up to Europe, and that anyone promoting grassroots democracy in Europe by the same token promotes it in his or her own country. This is why I remain convinced that devolution is the key to our continent's future.

Question: You are particularly concerned about women's role in politics: what are your recommendations in this respect for local and regional elections?

Véronique Moreira: In many countries, all too few women are elected at local level, either because of a shortage of candidates or because they were placed too low on the lists of candidates.  The answer lies in lists with equal numbers of women and men, as is the case in France.  This is the only way of ensuring that the human race is fairly represented, i.e. by equal numbers of men and women, in every assembly.  It is still the case in a number of countries, as well, that too few women turn out to vote, under the weight of "family tradition", but also as a consequence of women's greater likelihood in the past of being affected by illiteracy and lack of education.  These situations as well must change.