While Liberians await the results of Tuesday’s general election, a top EU observer has accused politicians who are already in office of overspending on their electoral campaigns and using government resources for them.
Neither President George Weah nor other incumbent politicians have commented on the claim.
Andreas Schieder, who’s heading the EU’s election observation mission, told the BBC these actions flouted the rules of Liberia’s electoral code.
“During the campaign we observed a lot of issues – and one of such major issues was the lack of level playing fields as it relates the economic side, they used financial supremacy and the other one is they used state resources [including houses, cars and other utilities],” he told the BBC.
Laws on financing regulations in Liberia’s election state that:
“Election expenses shall not be incurred or authorized by a candidate or party beyond the Liberian dollar equivalent of $2m (£1.6m) for president, and $1m for vice-president.”
The EU observer head also hailed the turnout and said voters took part peacefully.
Courtesy of BBC