KATHMANDU, Mar 23: EU EOM released a statement that the “assessment and recommendations in the EU EOM’s final report are based on international and regional commitments for democratic elections to which Nepal is a signatory.”
It reads that the recommendations were “widely consulted and discussed in roundtable discussion on 28 December 2017”. Amid criticism, the EU had invited government officials and stakeholders meeting at Hotel Yak and Yeti from 9 – 2 PM today, which the government has boycotted.
15th meeting of Nepal-India consultative group concludes
The report has drawn flanks from diverse spectrum, including Election Commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Government institutions have stated that the report “largely undermines the successful holding of smooth, peaceful and impartial elections, but also goes against scope and norms of international election observation.”
The Election Commission blatantly rejected the report calling it “unacceptable, misleading, baseless and in contravention of the international poll observation code of conduct.” The Election Commission added that as an observer, the European Union had breached at least 12 code of conduct points.
Various political leaders vented their ire on Twitter saying that the report “failed to understand the basics of Nepal’s constitution”, “expressed objectionable reservations to certain caste groups”, “unwarranted, unnecessary, inappropriate and interventionist” among others.