EU Long-Term Observers Return to Bolivia’s Nine Departments Ahead of the October 19 Runoff

EU observers deploy across Bolivia's nine departments ahead of the October 19 runoff

The 32 long-term observers of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) are returning today, Wednesday, to Bolivia's nine departments to observe the historic runoff election scheduled for 19 October.

After receiving a training session in La Paz - where the Core Team analysts provided an update on the political and electoral context in which this second round is taking place - the observers are now deploying across the country.

On 12 October, coinciding with the public simulation of the SIREPRE system, a group of 44 Short-Term Observers will arrive in La Paz to reinforce observation efforts. In addition, a delegation from the European Parliament, composed of six representatives from different political groups, will join the EU EOM in the days leading up to the vote. Representatives from the embassies of EU Member States present in Bolivia will also take part in the group of European observers.

In total, the European Union will observe election day across Bolivia with 120 observers from 24 EU countries, along with representatives from Norway, Switzerland, and Canada.

The European Union is globally recognized for the rigor and methodology of its international election observation, having deployed over 200 election observation missions in 75 countries since 2000. The EU has observed electoral processes in Bolivia in 2006, 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2020, demonstrating its strong commitment to democratic consolidation.

The EU EOM operates independently, and its observers are bound by a strict Code of Conduct that guarantees the neutrality and impartiality of their work. The mandate of the European observers is to analyze all stages of the electoral process: from candidate registration and the campaign period to election day proceedings, vote tabulation, the publication of results, and the processing of complaints and appeals.