In response to an invitation by the Superior Court of Electoral Justice (TSJE), the European Union has decided to deploy an EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the general elections in Paraguay, scheduled for 30 April 2023.

Reflecting its continued commitment to support credible, transparent and inclusive elections in Paraguay, the European Union also observed the 2013 and 2018 elections. EU EOMs aim to promote democracy and human rights in a framework of cooperation with third countries. EU Election Observation Missions are financed exclusively from European Union budgets.

The EU EOM Paraguay 2023 is led by Chief Observer Gabriel Mato, a Member of the European Parliament from Spain.

The Core Team of the EU EOM consists of 11 election experts that will arrive in Asunción in mid-March. Towards the end of March, 28 Long-Term Observers will join the mission and are to be deployed across the country to follow the electoral campaign. Also, 40 Short-Term Observers are planned to be deployed closer to election-day. Finally, a delegation of the European Parliament and a number of Locally-Recruited Short-Term Observers from the EU Member States accredited in Paraguay and from Canada, Norway and Switzerland may integrate the mission on Election Day.

The EU EOM will remain in the country until the completion of the electoral process.

The EU EOM conducts a comprehensive analysis of the electoral process, based on long-term observation. To this end, observers meet with electoral and political authorities, candidates, civil society organisations and the media to analyse, among other aspects:

• The legal framework and its implementation
• The impartiality and the performance of the election administration
• The degree of an open and fairly contested campaign, campaign finance
• The role of state institutions and civil society
• The universal franchise afforded to voters, especially to women, youth and vulnerable groups.
• The conduct of the media, including social media; access for political parties and candidates to state and private media
• The use of election technology in the electoral process
• Voting, counting and tabulation, as well as the announcement of the results
• The complaints and appeals process