issued a statement on the unfeasibility of holding complementary elections agreed upon by the
Plenary, while at the same time expressing concern over the "media exposure" of the investigations into delays in electoral material delivery reported on Sunday, April 12.
In the statement, the OAS/EOM said that, within the framework of the post-electoral stage, it maintained a technical deployment of 10 observers and specialists to follow up on the subsequent phase.
"In this regard, the Mission underscores the importance of this decision and of ensuring the integrity of the ongoing process, as well as full respect for the will of the people expressed by millions of Peruvians at the polls, both within the country and abroad," the document said regarding the JNE's unanimous decision on the unfeasibility of complementary elections requested by some political sectors.
It added that, through direct observation at different electoral bodies, "the Mission monitored, among other aspects, the retrieval of electoral materials, the tabulation of tally sheets, the resolution of contested tally sheets, the issuance of judicial decisions, and public hearings for vote recounts."
Concern
On the other hand, the OAS/EOM noted that "it is imperative to technically identify with precision the causes of the delays in the delivery of electoral materials in some areas of Metropolitan Lima."
"Nevertheless, the Mission observes with concern the media exposure of these processes and investigations and their possible use as tools of political polarization," the statement said.
"The OAS/EOM considers it essential to guarantee due process for the officials under investigation, ensuring that any allegations are supported by material evidence and resolved in the appropriate legal instances, avoiding summary judgments in public opinion or on social media," it added.
At the same time, the Mission urged the competent authorities to conduct these inquiries with the utmost prudence and adherence to institutional norms, "prioritizing legal rigor over media confrontation in order to safeguard confidence in the Peruvian electoral system."
Lastly, the OAS/EOM confirmed that it will return to observe the presidential runoff with a team of more than 90 specialists and observers deployed throughout the country.
(END) NDP/HTC/JCC/MVB