Arab Spring delegation observes Polish elections

They were in Poland at the invitation of the Foreign Ministry, to witness a democratic ballot before elections take place for the first time in many decades in their own countries.

Delegations from the Arab Spring countries, comprising members of the electoral boards and party representatives, had the opportunity to meet with the members of the Polish electoral commission, the Foreign Ministry and analysts.

The guests observed the Sunday elections in the cities of Warsaw, Radom and Płock.

Rania Mbarki, representing a local election commission in Tunis has told Polish Radio that the Tunisian authorities have a more strict approach to ballot secrecy than Poland.

“It’s obligatory to stand in the voting booth before putting pen to paper. Here, the ballot papers are marked on tables with families around. There is a discussion. In our country it’s confidential, we can’t say what we have chosen, you can’t show what you have chosen, so this is different for us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mounira Belghouthi, from a local election board in the Tunisian city of Kairouan, stressed that the Polish electoral system is more technologically advanced than Tunisia's.

“We spoke to IT specialists, and we have some idea of how to use information technology in the election,” he said.

Poland's deputy foreign minister Krzysztof Stanowski says that Polish assistance to North African countries does not end here.

“I hope the climax of our help comes when [the countries’ policymakers] begin discussing the constitution, reforms in economy and local government,” Stanowski told Polish Radio.

The visit comes ahead of a Tunisian ballot on 23 October, followed by elections in Egypt on 28 November, while the Libyan vote is to be held in 2013. (ab/pg)