Dr. Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) delegation that monitored the execution of the parliamentary elections in Iceland on Saturday, said the outcome clearly reflects the will of the voters.
The Althingi parliamentary building during the protests in November 2008. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Ahrens added that it is apparent how much faith the public has in that the execution of the elections was honest and that nothing indicates that the elections were executed any other way, Morgunbladid reports.
The committee will submit its final report on the elections in a few weeks so a formal evaluation has not yet been submitted.
“We are still receiving information,” Ahrens explained. “But what I can say is that these elections were definitely of the kind where the voters’ will was represented in the results. That is the most important thing because voters are supposed to decide who will have a seat in parliament.”
However, certain issues can be discussed and improved. “For example, we have seen mass migration from the countryside to the capital region for some time. The consequence is that now more votes have to be behind every seat in Reykjavík than for example in the Northwest Constituency, so they are weighted differently.”
Ahrens said it is not OSCE’s task to interfere with what kind of an election system Iceland uses; that decision is in the hands of the local authorities; “but our report could include some suggestions for improvements.”
Icelandic authorities should review the report, Ahrens said, but they’re not obligated to follow its recommendations. The final report will be sent to the Icelandic OSCE representatives in Vienna and Iceland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. After that it will be made accessible to the public on the internet.
Click here to read more about OSCE’s arrival in Iceland.
