Point of View interview: Ensuring a credible election

This Point of View interview is conducted with Carlos Valenzuela, who headed the Independent Election Commission of the UN during the 2005 elections in Iraq. He responds to questions about the day-to-day work and obstacles involved when conducting elections in Iraq.

Valenzuela made the following key points:

• The UN did not have the mandate to 'observe' the elections, as this would have conflicted with the task of providing technical and administrative assistance. 
• The Iraqi election was credible in that the people believed in the process. 
• Supporting elections in post-conflict situations have recurrent themes- difficult social and political conditions, weak infrastructure, new electoral institutions and practices, political actors playing a new field under new rules, and general mistrust. However, each situation is also unique and work has to be adapted to the situation.