Is international election observation useful?

Vera Cravid, member of the Santomean Association of Women Lawyers in Sao Tomé and Principe, answers the question in this video.

The 2022 EU Election Observation Mission in São Tome e Príncipe highlights in its preliminary statement that: "Lack of provisions for domestic observation deprives the process of an important element. Domestic observation is not envisaged in the Electoral Law, which is at odds with international principles. Civil society groups could therefore not engage properly in the elections, depriving the process of an important component. The introduction of domestic observation is a debated issue in São Tomé e Príncipe."

The opinion of Eduardo Elba Espírito Santo, Permanent Secretary of the Santomean NGOs Federation:

Hernani Santiago, President of Electoral Transparency São Tomé and Príncipe highlights the importance of the presence of international observers in the country, in this interview realised before the elections. He explains that in São Tomé and Príncipe domestic observation is not provided for by law. 

In the video below, the opinion of João Carlos "Nezó", Santomean painter and musician.

Find the 2022 EU EOM São Tomé e Príncipe Preliminary Statement here: https://bit.ly/3Cf7Vli