Trump did not invite OSCE election observers for the first time in over 20 years – media
The administration of US President Donald Trump has not invited OSCE observers to the midterm elections in Congress for the first time in more than 20 years, breaking a tradition that Washington has followed since 2002.
This is reported by The Hill.
Previously, the United States regularly invited representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to observe presidential and midterm elections. This time, the Trump administration decided to abandon this practice.
The White House explained that the election process should be monitored by Americans themselves. Administration spokeswoman Laurene Bies stated that US citizens will organize the elections, participate in them, and monitor the voting.
Elections are usually observed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Its representatives assess compliance with democratic standards and make recommendations for improving the electoral process. However, the mission has no authority to interfere in the voting or determine the legitimacy of the results.
Washington’s decision has already been criticized by the OSCE. The president of the organization’s Parliamentary Assembly, Pere Joan Pons, called the refusal of international observation a serious departure from democratic practices that have been in place for more than two decades.
Representatives of the US Democratic Party also expressed their dissatisfaction. Senator Jeanne Shaheen stated that such a decision contradicts the principles of election transparency, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse called it a disturbing signal for American democracy.
Congressman Steve Cohen suggested that the Trump administration may be intentionally avoiding independent oversight of the vote.
As The Hill notes, the president’s critics fear that Republicans may try to challenge the election results if their candidates lose. At the same time, representatives of individual states are discussing possible federal interference in the electoral process, which is the responsibility of the states in the United States.