European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE)

🇬🇪 Join us for an online round table on "European Perspectives, Russian Law, and a New Electoral System: What to Know About Georgia’s 2024 Elections" on June 27 at 15:00 CET! With the new proportional voting system and voting machines, will we see a more balanced parliament? How could recent laws and the stigmatization of civil society impact the electoral process? 🗳 Together with our experts Nino Dolidze, Sandro Baramidze, Nana Tchanturia, and Mamuka Andguladze, we will discuss the consequences of eliminating majority constituencies, the role of new electoral technologies amid social polarization, and the effects of the “Foreign Agents” law on civil society and media. 🗓️ June 27 at 15:00 CET 📍 Online (Zoom) 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/diajQpbn #Georgia2024 #Elections #ForeignAgentsLaw The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) Transparency International Georgia Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) Media Advocacy Coalition

🇭🇺 "[The Sovereignty Law] has enforced a culture of fear within civil society and the media, diverted already limited resources and attention, stifled cooperation and imposed a level of self-censorship." 👉 Read the latest article on EU Observer by Elliott Goat and Zsofia Banuta (Unhack Democracy) detailing the Hungarian government's tightened control over civil society organizations: https://lnkd.in/d9e4id2H 📘 For further details, check out the Hungarian Citizen Election Report 2024: https://lnkd.in/d4bijxQn

📹 Thanks so much to our speakers - Nino Dolidze, Sandro Baramidze, Nana Tchanturia, and Mamuka Andguladze - and everyone who joined us yesterday for the online round table on “European perspectives, Russian Law, and a new electoral system: What to know about Georgia’s 2024 elections” 🇬🇪 👉 For those who missed it, you can watch the full recording here: https://lnkd.in/diEVxyUk Stay in the loop on our upcoming events, news from the EPDE network and the activities of the EPDE secretariat: https://lnkd.in/dfuJ_zQh The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) Transparency International Georgia Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) Media Advocacy Coalition

📰 Our fresh newsletter is now in your inbox! 📪 In this issue, read about: 🔹 27 June, 15:00 CET Online Round Table on the upcoming Georgia Parliamentary elections 2024, organised with EPDE member The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) 👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/3Vrp5pa 🔹 EPDE at the European Parliament Elections: Observing E-Day in Bulgaria and Romania, in partnership with @ Institute for Public Environment Development (IPED) and Expert Forum (EFOR) 🔹 Report on the EU and local elections in Hungary, published by Hungarian election-related organizations, including EPDE member Unhack Democracy …and more updates from our members! Read all about it here: https://bit.ly/3L0XFSs Not subscribed yet? 👉 Sign up for our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dfuJ_zQh

A big congratulations to our colleagues at the Political Accountability Foundation and their fantastic Board of Directors — Zofia Lutkiewicz, Karol Bijos, and Dr. Anna Frydrych-Depka — on receiving the Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of State! Your hard work in promoting free and fair elections in Poland is truly inspiring. Gratulacje! 💙

I'm thrilled to see the hard work of Team Integrity at European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) gaining widespread attention in France this morning. Our mission is critical: exposing and holding accountable those who promote authoritarianism in Europe. It is particularly concerning when European politicians travel to Russia to observe so-called "elections," effectively legitimizing an autocratic regime. This practice undermines our democratic values and is absolutely unacceptable. Check out the thread if you are concerned about the resurgence of the far-right in France! I am proud to lead these efforts for EPDE and immensely proud of our team's dedication and impact. We will continue to stand against any attempts to erode democracy, ensuring that the voices advocating for freedom and justice are heard loud and clear.

📢 🎥 In light of recent political developments in Georgia, Olga Aivazovska, chair of the board of Civil Network OPORA, spoke with Nino Evgenidze, the director of the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) and Nino Dolidze, executive director of the The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) about the controversial foreign agents law and its implications. ❓ Why did official Tbilisi resort to adopting the scandalous foreign agents law before the parliamentary elections, and will the civil society representatives obey it? ❓ How does society react to steps that actually destroy Georgia’s European perspective? ❓ And is the current government of Georgia afraid of sanctions from Western countries? 🎥 Watch the interview here: https://lnkd.in/dnwMhEN2 👉 More information here: https://lnkd.in/dtwZqAQn The “Power of Choice” is a project of Civil Network OPORA that aims to emphasize the importance of responsible and informed choice for the sustainable development of Ukraine and Ukrainian society.

We aimed to amplify the voices of civil society and provide a platform for NGOs across the EU to cover and analyze the elections from their unique perspectives. The Live Feed section would have remained just an idea without the involvement of our partners, who accepted our invitation to join this project and offered their insights and commentaries throughout the election days. Institutional Partners: Expert Forum (EFOR), Gender Concerns International, European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), Institute for Public Environment Development (IPED), Inter Alia, Political Accountability Foundation, European Exchange, Danes je nov dan, Committee for the Defence of Democracy (Komitet Obrony Demokracji - KOD), Croatian Youth Network MEMO 98, Forum 50% and Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit. Expert Contributors: Maria Krause, Romania, Christoforos Christoforou, Cyprus, Sabra Bano, Netherlands, Dr. Claudiu Tufis, Romania and Dr. Ionela Băluță, Romania. Visit WeVote4.eu and read the latest analysis and comments in real time.

I’m thrilled to be in Romania today, observing the local and European Parliament elections with the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE). We’re here to make sure everything runs smoothly and transparently, and it’s great to see democracy in action up close. We’re using the innovative Vote Monitor app, which has revolutionized election observation in Romania and beyond. Before this app, observations were done with pen and paper, and reports were centralized weeks later. Now, with Vote Monitor, we can upload real-time reports, photos, videos, and audio from polling stations. This allows NGOs to receive immediate updates and respond quickly to any issues or irregularities. Part of the Infrastructure for Good developed by Commit Global, Vote Monitor is a game-changer. It provides a clearer, real-time understanding of the election process. It’s inspiring to see technology enhance our ability to observe elections and safeguard democracy. A special shoutout to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for bringing in Central Asian observers. Their participation adds valuable perspectives to our mission and highlights the importance of international cooperation in promoting democratic values.

🌍 I'm excited to share some early highlights from an ongoing trip to Romania with the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) team. We will be privileged to observe local elections and elections to the European Parliament tomorrow, which ties directly into EPDE's mission to promote transparent and fair elections across Europe. Election observation, particularly by citizens, is the lifeblood of democracy. It ensures transparency and fairness and that international standards are met. Citizen election observation is not just important; it's critical, as it empowers local communities to protect their electoral processes and hold their leaders accountable. In Romania, we have had insightful discussions with the Permanent Electoral Authority. We learned about their strong election security measures and how they're addressing online challenges. This was a fantastic opportunity to see their best practices in action and share ideas on improving elections globally. A huge thank you to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for supporting the participation of observers from Central Asia. Their involvement is making our mission richer and highlighting the value of international cooperation in strengthening democracy. https://lnkd.in/dvjj3MvE