The elections for European Parliament from November 25th 2007 have been monitored in Bihor County by Pro Democracy Association in partnership with Ruhama Foundation. According to the director of PDA Bihor - Mr. Alexandru Simon - the elections have been organized and carried out within the legal frame. No systematic fraud attempts have been recorded from any political party.

PDA monitored the elections for European Parliament in over 50 voting offices from the rural area of Bihor County. 16 observers are members of the Roma leaders county network and they have been involved in the monitoring process by Ruhama Foundation. Elections' monitoring was preceded by an awareness campaign to stimulate participation in elections in rural areas, a campaign carried out with support of the Roma youngsters, members of the Roma Youth Forum established by Ruhama Foundation.

According to Mr. Simon, the major problems have been identified in two locations: Ortiteag village - Magesti commune and Lazareni commune. "In Ortiteag, a member of the voting office has accompanied repeateadly the citizens in the voting cabin. The president of the voting office was informed by our mobile observers, arrived at the scene", stated Mr. Alexandru Simon, who also mentioned that in Lazareni a member of the voting office has tried to influence voters by indicating a specific party to be voted. "There have been other minor issues as well, like electoral posters near voting offices and, in Tamaseu, the voting office was set in the same building with a political party's headquarter", added Mr. Simon. He also mentioned that the majority of the voting offices omitted to post the article 103 from Law 373/2004 regarding multiple voting. "But generally elections have been carried out in an adequate manner", concluded PDA director, Mr. Simon.

source: Crisana