The National Democratic Institute (NDI), a U.S.-funded nonprofit organization that works to improve democracy worldwide, will oversee the upcoming Palestinian presidential election, planned for January 9, a spokeswoman for the group said. "We are going to be observing," said NDI spokeswoman, Jean Freedberg, adding that NDI was "working on putting together a delegation" and deciding on methods of how the organization will observe the voting process. The group is expected to release a formal announcement next week about its planned activities, including a list of monitors. NDI has observed over 50 elections,
| ... but never one like this is gonna be... |
including the recent elections in Ukraine, where it reported several irregularities. NDI, which is funded by the U.S. government through the National Endowment for Democracy, already operates in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip through its political party development program, a long-term mission that aims at creating awareness of the role and duties of political factions in the democratic political process.
| It'd prob'ly make more sense for the RNC and the DNC to open offices there. The Paleodefinition of "political party" isn't quite what we're used to... |
Also, a team of 260 European Union election monitors will be observing the PA elections. A task force led by the former French Prime Minister, Michel Rocard, who is a European Parliament member, has already arrived in the occupied territories to oversee preparations for the poll. |