Following an invitation by the Salvadoran Government to the European Union to observe the Legislative and Municipal elections taking place on 4 March 2018, an Election Exploratory Mission was deployed to the country from 11 to 25 November 2017.
The Mission’s overall objective was to assess whether the deployment of an EU Election Observation Mission for the 2018 elections would be useful, feasible and advisable, in accordance with the criteria set out in the communication on EU Election Assistance and Observation (COM(2000)191) and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.
The specific objective of the Mission was to produce strategic analysis and reporting on the ongoing electoral processes and to provide input for electoral reform as well as confidence-enhancing measures during and after the elections.
The Mission met with a wide range of government authorities, election administration, the judiciary, political parties, independent candidates, Armed Forces, human rights institutions, civil society, domestic and international observers, media representatives, international organisations and the EU and other diplomatic communities. The mission undertook field visits to Santa Ana, San Miguel, San Vicente, La Unión, Usulután, Ahuachapán and Chalatenango.