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AU observation mission head and COI leader call on President Michel |07 December 2015

On Friday, the eve of the main polling day, the head of the African Union (AU) observation mission Julia Dolly Joiner and the secretary general of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Jean Claude de L’Estrac who is leading the latter’s observation mission delegation paid a courtesy call on President James Michel at State House.

Speaking to the press soon after the meeting Ms Joiner said it was an opportunity to brief Mr Michel on the work the AU mission had been doing and the interactions it has been having with different stakeholders.

Ms Joiner said the observers witnessed the election process in the different special polling stations on the first day of voting on Thursday and said they were very much impressed and encouraged by the calm and peaceful atmosphere, the presence of presidential candidates and their party representative who observed the election process, respect procedures and accompanied ballot boxes to the Electoral Commission.

“These are positive signs which are very encouraging for democracy,” she said.

Mr de L’’Estrac expressed the same wish noting that the calm and peaceful atmosphere is a sign of maturity of the electorate.

He noted that more than ever he has observed an acceptance from all sides that national institutions are carrying out their fuctions as required though he admitted that there will always be critricisms but they are not as rife.

With regard to election logistics Mr de L’Estrac said these are well in place and with the presence of the different political parties anything which deserve attention were pointed out and attended to by the Electoral Commission.

“In general we have seen that things are functioning as they should and everybody knows what he or she has to do and all is being carried out transparently as it should be in a democracy,” he said, noting that the important thing is that peace, calm and order continue to reign regardless who wins the election as life will continue after the election.

The accompanying photos show Ms Joiner and Mr de L’Estrac during their meetings with President Michel.

 

 

 

 

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