The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will dispatch over 240 international observers in Bulgaria for the forthcoming parliamentary elections on May 12.

A Needs Assessment Mission report of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) informs that the organization recommends the deployment of a standard Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Bulgaria to assess the May 12 early elections for for its compliance with OSCE commitments, other international standards, and domestic legislation.

The report also says that the secondment of 220 short-term observers will be requested from participating States to ensure a wide and balanced geographic coverage of the country for the observation of election day proceedings.

On 28 February, Bulgaria's outgoing Parliament adopted a decision suggesting that the Foreign Ministry invite an 'expanded' OSCE/ODIHR observation mission.

Following an invitation from Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry, the OSCE/ODIHR undertook a Needs Assessment Mission to Bulgaria from 18 to 20 March 2013 to assess the pre-election environment and the preparations for the early parliamentary elections.

OSCE representatives held meetings with representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the Civil Registration and Administrative Services Department of the Ministry of Regional Development (GRAO), the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), the National Audit Office, state-owned IT company Information Services, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the center-right party GERB, the right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party (DSB), the Bulgaria for Citizens Movement, the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, the marginal conservative Order, Law and Justice party, the Bulgarian National Television, the Council for Electronic Media (CEM), Transparency International, the Institute for Public Environment Development, the Institute for Social Integration, and the Civic Initiative for Free and Democratic Elections.

"All interlocutors met with during the OSCE/ODIHR NAM underscored the need for the deployment of an OSCE/ODIHR election observation activity for the early parliamentary elections. Most interlocutors encouraged the deployment of a full-scale observation mission," the report says.

OSCE reminds that the collective resignation of the center-right GERB government was approved by Parliament on February 21, after which President Rosen Plevneliev dissolved Parliament and scheduled early elections for May 12.

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