Nelson/Creston MLA selected to monitor parliamentary elections in the Ukraine
By Nelson Daily Staff
Nelson/Creston MLA Michelle Mungall is headed to the Ukraine later this month as part of the Canadian delegation to monitor the country’s parliamentary elections.
“Democracy is not something that can be taken for granted,” said Mungall, to be in the Ukraine elections on October 28, in a written release.
“Canada has a very strong and stable democracy that has evolved over our history and that of the parliamentary system. It is great to be able to share that experience, and support the development of free and fair elections in Ukraine.”
Mungall was selected as one of the 500 election observers composing Canada’s contribution to a large mission of over 10,000 observers.
CANADEM, an Ottawa based NGO that is managing the Canadian mission, selected Mungall from among 2000 applicants based on her experience observing elections in the African nation of Zambia and her qualifications as an elected official in Canada.
The mission’s objectives are to observe and report on whether the October 28 election results genuinely reflects the democratic expression of Ukrainian voters.
A report released by long-term observers already in the Ukraine has raised early concerns due to cases of vote buying and threats to candidates.
The report is also hopeful; one section of it reads “free and fair elections that represent the will of the Ukrainian people are still possible. It is not too late.”
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity,” said Mungall.
“The concept of democracy is a passion of mine and it is important, as a global citizen, to contribute to democratic fairness around the world. My experience in Zambia showed me the positive effects international election observation can have for democracy and peace, and I’m glad I can be a part of this.”
