Tunis, Tunisia – The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) today announced the arrival of their joint Election Observation Mission (EOM) for Tunisia’s parliamentary elections on October 6. The delegation will be led by Andrew Natsios, former administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs and Anna Luhrmann, former member of the German parliament and deputy director of the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute.

"Tunisia's presidential and parliamentary elections represent the first opportunity to transfer power from one democratically elected government to another since the 2011 revolution,” said Luhrmann. “Many democratic milestones have already been accomplished, including a record number of registered voters and the first televised presidential debates. Tunisia's democratic progress through a well-administered parliamentary election will continue to send a powerful signal to countries throughout the region."

“Through broad-based participation in the democratic process, Tunisian citizens continue to lead by example in the region,” said Natsios. “Five years ago, I witnessed Tunisia taking its first steps to establish its own democracy.  I am pleased to return to witness the next step in that journey.” 

The 34-member delegation includes political leaders, diplomats, former elected and government officials, and regional and electoral experts. The delegation joins NDI/IRI’s eight long-term observers and seven core team members, who have been deployed since mid-August and will stay in Tunisia until the election processes are completed.

The delegation will maintain a Tunisia Election Portal during the mission with its latest observations and issue a preliminary statement of its findings.  

The following is the full list of delegates participating in the IRI/NDI joint international Election Observation Mission:

• Anna Luhrmann, Former Germany Green Party Politician and Deputy Director, V-Dem Institute
• Andrew Nastios, Former Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Director and Executive Professor, Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs
• Jeffrey England, Deputy Regional Director Middle East and North Africa, National Democratic Institute
• Judy Van Rest, Executive Vice President, International Republican Institute
• Elie Abouaoun, Director of Middle East and North Africa Programs, United States Institute for Peace
• George Andrews, Chief of Staff, California State Assemblyman Tom Lackey
• Ibtissame Azz, Authenticity and Modernity Party Politician, Member of the Moroccan House of Representatives
• Franck Diea, Information Technology and Communication Assistant, Platform of Civil Society Organizations for Election Observation in Cote d'Ivoire
• Mvemba Dizolele, Senior Advisor for Africa, International Republican Institute
• Peter Donolo, Former Communications Director, Prime Minister Jean Chretien
• Michael Druckman, Resident Program Director, International Republican Institute.
• Michele Dunne, Director and Senior Fellow of Middle East Programs, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Carla Eudy, President, Eudy Company
• Intissar Fakir, Fellow and Editor in Chief of Sada, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Trevor Fearon, Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce
• Dalia Ghanem, Resident Scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Khasro Goran, Former Member of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament & Member of the Leadership Council, Kurdish Democratic Party
• Barbara Haig, Deputy to the President for Policy & Strategy, National Endowment for Democracy
• Jerry Hartz, Director for Government Relations and Communications, National Democratic Institute
• Amr Hamzawy, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Thomas Hill, Senior Program Officer, North Africa, United States Institute for Peace
• Patrick Kennedy, Former Chief of Staff, Office of Peter Milliken, Speaker of Parliament
• Sam LaHood, Director for Government and External Affairs, International Republican Institute
• Tanja Macura, Member of Parliament, National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia
• Rhonda Mays, Regional Deputy Director for Asia, International Republican Institute
• Eric Ollerenshaw, Conservative Party Politician, Former Member of Parliament, Government of the United Kingdom
• Jan Nico Overbeeke, Independent Consultant, Former Resident Director, National Democratic Institute
• Erik Paulsen, Former Member of Congress, U.S. House of Representatives
• Pearl Pillay, Director, Youthlab- South Africa
• Anoush Terjanian, Visiting Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
• Christina Tsafoulias, Legislative Director, Office of Representative David Trone
• Ibrahim Saif, Chief Executive Officer, Jordan Strategy Forum
• Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice-President, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
• Samantha Schifrin, National Security Advisor, Office of Congressman David Price

The delegation’s purpose is to demonstrate the international community’s continuing support for democratic processes in Tunisia and to provide an objective assessment of the election process and the political environment surrounding it. The mission will conduct its activities in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers and will base its findings and recommendations on Tunisian laws and on international standards for democratic elections. Members of the delegation will meet with party and campaign representatives, government and election officials, as well as representatives of civil society and the international community in Tunis and throughout the country. On Election Day, members of the joint delegation will visit polling stations for the opening, voting, closing and counting processes in their assigned regions.  

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The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. More information is available at www.ndi.org.

A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the International Republican Institute (IRI) advances freedom and democracy worldwide by helping political parties to become more responsive, strengthening transparent and accountable governance, and working to increase the role of marginalized groups in the political process – including women and youth. More information is available at www.iri.org.