Fake Election Observers Are Undermining Democracy—It’s Time for National Parliaments to Step Up
- maria tsaousi
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Last week, democracy defenders gathered in Brussels for a high-stakes conversation that should concern every citizen who values free and fair elections. The European Parliament, alongside the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), hosted a conference to confront a growing threat: fake election observation.
Yes, you read that right. Fake election observers—people who claim to monitor elections but are actually there to lend legitimacy to rigged outcomes—are increasingly being deployed as tools of disinformation and democratic subversion. And they’re not just fringe actors. According to David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, these observers are “a strategic tool to whitewash fraud and discredit genuine election monitoring.”
Why This Matters
Election observers are a critical line of defense in any democracy. When deployed with integrity, they offer transparency, build public trust, and hold authorities accountable. But when bad actors hijack this process, they don’t just blur the truth—they actively help manipulate it.
Fake observers are often linked to authoritarian regimes or political interest groups looking to rubber-stamp election results that lack credibility. Their presence muddies the waters, making it harder for the public to distinguish between legitimate democratic processes and sham ones.
What the EU Is Doing
The conference wasn’t just a talk shop. It produced concrete recommendations:
A Binding Code of Conduct: National parliaments across the EU are being called on to adopt stricter ethical standards for election observation, including consequences for MPs who misuse their role.
Information Sharing: The European Parliament aims to share best practices with member states, creating a unified front against election-related disinformation.
Rapid Response Mechanisms: Experts urged the EU to implement systems that can quickly counter foreign attacks on electoral integrity—especially in the digital space.
Regional Cooperation: A coordinated, EU-wide strategy is needed to protect the entire electoral ecosystem from hybrid threats.
What You Can Do
This issue may seem distant, but it affects all of us. A weakened election process in one part of Europe impacts the legitimacy of democratic institutions everywhere. Here’s how you can make a difference:
Stay informed about your country’s election monitoring practices.
Demand transparency from elected officials who participate in international observation missions.
Support civil society organizations that promote democratic resilience and expose fake observation efforts.
Democracy doesn't erode overnight. It’s chipped away bit by bit, often under the guise of legitimacy. Recognizing fake election observation for what it is—a dangerous form of manipulation—is a crucial step in pushing back.
It’s time national parliaments joined the fight.
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