Preliminary OAS report asks Ecuadorian NEC to respect electoral calendar

Quito, February 22 (RHC)-- The Organization of American States (OAS) has published a preliminary report of the presidential and parliamentary elections held in Ecuador last February 7, 2021, where it asks the National Electoral Council (CNE) to respect the electoral calendar.

"The Mission expressed its concern about the lack of definitions regarding the electoral process and made a strong call to the CNE to ensure compliance with the electoral calendar for the second round on April 11," says the OAS in its report.

Although it does not vehemently criticize the electoral authorities for the constant denunciations of political organizations, it asks the CNE to offer punctual and constant information about the status and progress of the process, "guarantees of certainty and transparency must be provided to all political forces involved in the electoral process," they add.

The OAS rejected the intervention of some State institutions in the electoral process in Ecuador, "the Mission is concerned that, as happened in the pre-electoral stage, institutions outside the electoral function hinder the proper development of the electoral process."

"The recommendations that can be implemented in view of the April 11 elections, the CNE is urged to guarantee that the electoral bodies can exercise their functions with full autonomy, without interference or external pressures (...) In case of a quick count for the second round, clearly communicate the moment in which the results will be published and its methodological characteristics", indicates the OAS.

Faced with the lack of communications, the organization asserts that it is indispensable that the people know the results of the tally sheets, as well as the quick count.   "It is necessary to reinforce especially that a quick count does not substitute the results of the official tally."