Mexico Condemns OAS Interference in Bolivia's Elections

OAS Chief Luis Almagro, a close ally of the US government. | Photo: Flickr

Published 24 October 2019

“No one should interfere in the elections of a country, even less, say when it is not yet concluded. Your job should be limited to technical advice and not try to make binding decisions.”


The Mexican government has criticised the OAS Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) for prematurely raising ‘concerns’ about Bolivia’s elections before carrying out a full audit which the Bolivian government invited them to do.

Mexico’s representative at the OAS Luz Elena Baños said, “No one should interfere in the elections of a country, even less say when it is not yet concluded. Your job should be limited to technical advice and not try to make binding decisions.”

The Inter-American Democratic Charter, in article 23, says that OAS can provide advice or assistance, but cannot rule on election outcomes. Mexico is concerned that the OAS is abandoning its supposed commitment to neutrality.

“We demand respect for sovereign processes and condemn the fallacious claims of some member states of this organization, that despite being under major social and political upheavals, intend to become judges and monitors of democracy in other countries of the region. We call for the sovereignty and institutionality of the Plurinational State [of Bolivia] to be respected. ”

More:
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Mexico-Condemns-OAS-Interference-in-Bolivias-Elections-20191024-0005.html