Kathmandu, Oct 16: As pointed out by the participants at a discussion here, free and fair elections are pivotal to the quality of democracy. The most fundamental principle that defines trusted elections is that they must reflect the free expression of the will and desire of the people, they stressed at a discussion organised here by the USAID Nepal in partnership with the Election Commission of Nepal.
Democracy flourishes when citizens can freely elect their representatives through free and impartial polls, they added.
The discussion on a crucial legal reform model is expected to serve as the foundation for shaping the EC’s fourth strategic plan and the election reform process in Nepal, said the organiser. This comprehensive collection of recommendations from both national and international observers cleared up the status of these recommendations and charted the way forward. As part of its commitment to fostering democracy in Nepal, USAID Nepal and our partners specifically provided comparative international standards and best practice perspectives on these recommendations, it has been said.
For over two decades, USAID Nepal has been working closely with the EC and other stakeholders to enhance Nepal’s electoral system, thus enabling citizens to exercise their right to elect their representatives.
