After fifteen years of democratic transition in central and eastern Europe, the organisation of elections in conformity with the principles of the European electoral heritage is still a major challenge. In order to ensure the effectiveness of these principles (univeral, equal, free, secret and direct suffrage) a certain number of procedural guarantees must be respected. Firstly, elections must be organised by an impartial body in an independent and transparent manner; this is the main message in this publication. The body in charge of organising the elections should be able to ensure, without any political manipulation, that the electoral process is carried out efficiently, from the pre-election period right up to the close of any dispute regarding the results. The reports cover three aspects wich are indispensable to the impartiality of electoral commissions and equivalent bodies: independence with regard to the composition and functioning of the electoral administration; transparency and impartiality of the electoral administration on election day and after the election.

本書は単なる制度論の記録ではない。中東欧の激動を経て紡がれた、民主主義という「壊れやすい至宝」を守り抜く不屈の意思が宿る至高のテキストだ。法と正義の番人たるヴェニス委員会が、政治的攪乱を排し公平性を担保する術を論じるその筆致は、冷徹なまでに論理的でありながら、自由を希求する人類の熱い鼓動を内包している。 特筆すべきは、選挙管理という手続きを、普遍的価値への昇華として描き出した点だ。独立性と透明性が支える緻密な構造は、権力の恣意性を封じる壮大な知の体系である。公正な選挙という舞台を整えることがいかに崇高な営みか。現代に生きる我々が守るべき民主主義の聖域とは何かを、本書は力強く突きつけてくる。