Kathmandu, Apr 16: The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) has praised the way the Constituent Assembly elections were held in Nepal, saying the poll represents a crucial step towards introduction of inclusive democracy in that country. "I commend the people of Nepal for the largely peaceful way in which voting took place despite the difficult circumstances. Voters turned out in large numbers and showed a genuine commitment to an inclusive election," said Jan Mulder, Chief Observer of the EU EOM.

"It is now our sincere hope that, as the counting process gets underway across the country, all political parties and their leaders will respect the will of the people and the rule of law by waiting patiently for the election results," he added. "This long awaited election has demonstrated the enthusiasm of Nepalese people for multi-party democracy and constitutional reform." said Josep Borrell, the head of a delegation from the European Parliament, which is part of the EU observation mission.

"We urge political parties to act responsibly in the coming weeks and show commitment to furthering the country's democratic progress. The election commission should also ensure the detailed publication of the final results as a safeguard to ensure transparency," he added.

The EU EOM will continue to observe the rest of the election process closely, including the count, tabulation of results, the response of the election administration to complaints and the adherence of political parties to the principles of the code of conduct. A more comprehensive, final report including recommendations for future elections will be published in June.

ANI