The Special Coordinator of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Austrian MP Reinhold Lopatka, who is in charge of the OSCE short-term observer mission in the presidential elections in Uzbekistan, shared his views on the election campaign and the voting process with journalists. As an observer, he visited a number of polling stations in Tashkent.

The current elections, like the parliamentary elections in December 2019, where he was also an observer, were organized at the proper level, he said.

In addition, the country has seen improvements in elections in recent years, Reinhold Lopatka said. “You are on the right track, but this is not the last step, further steps are needed,” he said.

While, he pointed to some shortcomings. “I saw [at one of the polling stations] how two ballots were dropped into the ballot box, I don’t know why,” he said.

According to Reinhold Lopatka, there were no strong differences in the statements of presidential candidates during the election campaign.

“In Austria, there is much more rivalry and struggle between candidates. Even if you are the president-elect, other candidates may be very critical of you during the campaign. This is a huge difference between my country and Uzbekistan, ”he shared.

“Perhaps the president had more coverage here, but this is not an unusual phenomenon, it can be seen in European countries as well,” the OSCE representative said.

Regarding the use of the administrative resource, he said: "In some European countries there are very strict requirements, and there is no chance to use it ... It is always important that there are clear requirements, a legal framework."

Among other issues that require discussion, Reinhold Lopatka noted the requirement to nominate candidates only from political parties. “Some parties have not been registered,” he added.