Venice Commission :: Council of Europe

Venice, Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista - The 78th meeting of the Council for Democratic Elections was held on 5 October 2023 in Venice, Italy. During this meeting, the Council approved three draft opinions drawn up jointly by the Venice Commission and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

These draft opinions relate to amendments to the Electoral Code of Armenia and related legislation, a draft law of Ukraine restricting the participation of persons associated with certain political parties, and amendments to the Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova concerning the ineligibility of persons linked to political parties declared unconstitutional. It is particularly relevant in view of the country-wide local elections to be held on 5 November 2023, for which the Congress will deploy an observation mission.

The Council for Democratic Elections is the only tripartite body of the Council of Europe, comprising members of the Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. Its aim is to unite the legal experience of the Venice Commission and the political experience of the Assembly and the Congress and to examine all the opinions relating to States and documents of a general nature concerning elections before their submission for adoption by the Venice Commission.

Following a revision of its rules of procedure entered into force on 1 October 2023, the Council Presidency aims to ensure rotation between the various Council bodies and comprises a President and two Vice-Presidents drawn from the three bodies making up the Council.

At its meeting of 5 October 2023, the Council elected:

• President: Mr Stewart Dickson (Congress of Local and Regional Authorities)
• Vice-Presidents: Mr Srdjan Darmanovic (Venice Commission); Mr Michael Link (Parliamentary Assembly)

More information on the CDE

Related documents

CDL-AD(2023)031 English 06/10/2023 - Public
Republic of Moldova - Joint Opinion of the Venice Commission and ODIHR on amendments to the Electoral Code and other related laws concerning ineligibility of persons connected to political parties declared unconstitutional, approved by the Council for Democratic Elections at its 78th meeting (Venice, 5 October 2023) and adopted by the Venice Commission at its 136th Plenary Session (Venice, 6-7 October 2023)

CDL-AD(2023)031 French 06/10/2023 - Public
République de Moldova - Avis conjoint de la Commission de Venise et du BIDDH sur les amendements au Code électoral et autres lois connexes concernant l'inéligibilité des personnes liées à des partis politiques déclarés inconstitutionnels, approuvé par le Conseil des élections démocratiques lors de sa 78e réunion (Venise, 5 octobre 2023) et adopté par la Commission de Venise lors de sa 136e session plénière (Venise, 6-7 octobre 2023)

CDL-AD(2023)030 English 09/10/2023 - Public
Armenia - Joint Opinion of the Venice Commission and the ODIHR on the Draft Amendments to the Electoral Code and related legislation, approved by the Council for Democratic Elections at its 78th meeting (Venice, 5 October 2023) and adopted by the Venice Commission at its 136th Plenary Session (Venice, 6-7 October 2023)

CDL-AD(2023)030 French 09/10/2023 - Public
Arménie - Avis conjoint de la Commission de Venise et du BIDDH sur les projets de modification du code électoral et de la législation connexe, approuvé par le Conseil des élections démocratiques lors de sa 78e réunion (Venise, 5 octobre 2023) et adopté par la Commission de Venise à sa 136è session plénière (Venise, 6-7 octobre 2023)

CDL-AD(2023)025 French 09/10/2023 - Public
Ukraine - Avis conjoint de la Commission de Venise et du BIDDH sur le projet de loi modifiant certains actes législatifs de l'Ukraine qui restreignent la participation au pouvoir d'Etat de personnes associées à des partis politiques dont les activités sont interdites par la loi, approuvé par le Conseil des élections démocratiques lors de sa 78e réunion (5 octobre 2023) et adopté par la Commission de Venise lors de sa 136e session plénière (Venise, 6-7 octobre 2023).

CDL-AD(2023)025 English 09/10/2023 - Public
Ukraine - Joint opinion of the Venice Commission and ODIHR on the draft law amending certain legislative acts of Ukraine which restrict the participation in the state power of persons associated with political parties whose activities are prohibited by law, approved by the Council for Democratic Elections at its 78th meeting (5 October 2023) and adopted by the Venice Commission at its 136th Plenary Session (Venice, 6-7 October 2023)

CDL-OJ(2023)005ann English 22/09/2023 - Public
78th meeting of the Council for Democratic Elections, Venice, 5 October 2023 - Draft annotated agenda

CDL-OJ(2023)005ann French 22/09/2023 - Public
78e réunion du Conseil des élections démocratiques, Venise, le 5 octobre 2023 - Projet d'ordre du jour annoté

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