EU MISSION RELEASES FINAL REPORT ON 2025 ELECTIONS, SAY POLLS PEACEFUL BUT UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD PERSISTED

By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) has released its final report on Guyana’s September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections, highlighting both strong administrative performance and persistent systemic weaknesses that require urgent reform.

Presenting the findings at a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Observer and Member of the European Parliament Robert Biedroń said the elections were “peaceful, well-run, and professionally administered,” noting that polling and tabulation were conducted efficiently and allowed voters to cast ballots in an orderly environment.

However, Biedroń emphasized that the polls took place against a backdrop of deep political polarization, lingering mistrust following the disputed 2020 elections, and heightened public expectations linked to Guyana’s expanding oil economy.

According to the EU-EOM, while the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) successfully managed election-day operations, its structure and decision-making processes remain vulnerable due to ongoing political division.

The Mission noted that the 2025 campaign period did not always provide a level playing field, citing:

• Significant advantages of incumbency, including the inauguration of numerous public projects during the campaign;
• Use of state media and government-linked social media platforms to amplify campaign messages;
• A lack of campaign finance regulation, preventing transparency around donations and spending;
• A polarised media environment, with state outlets and most private media houses strongly favouring the PPP/C, thereby limiting access to balanced information.

A handful of independent media outlets, the Mission noted, provided impartial coverage.

Six Priority Recommendations

The EU-EOM issued 18 recommendations in total, including six priority reforms intended to strengthen electoral integrity:

1. Strengthen constitutional and electoral reforms through a fully operational Constitutional Reform Commission with technical expertise.
2. Update the voter list using current population data and integrate it with Guyana’s digitalisation programmes.
3. Create clear campaign rules governing public officials and the use of state resources to prevent undue incumbency advantage.
4. Modernise campaign finance laws and introduce an independent oversight body.
5. Ensure equitable media access, including fair rules on airtime, political advertising, and campaign coverage.
6. Implement the Data Protection Act and establish a transparent Data Protection Office to secure voter information.

The EU-EOM stressed that implementing these reforms would strengthen trust, transparency, and the credibility of future elections.