WASHINGTON, USA – The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert R. Ramdin, has appointed former minister of the interior of Colombia, Juan Fernando Cristo, to lead the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) that the Organization will deploy for the general elections to be held on August 17 in Bolivia.
Juan Fernando Cristo, a Colombian lawyer and politician with extensive experience, served as senator between 1998 to 2014, presided over the Senate from 2013 to 2014, and was minister of the interior of Colombia on two occasions (2014-2017 and 2024-2025). Former minister Cristo played a key role in the negotiation and implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement in his country.
The OAS/EOM, which will be comprised of more than 85 specialists and observers from approximately 20 countries, will be deployed nationally and abroad. The Mission will analyse key aspects of the electoral process, such as electoral organization and technology; electoral justice; and political-electoral financing, among others.
During its work in the country, the OAS/EOM will meet with representatives of the government, departmental and national electoral authorities, candidates, members of civil society and academia, among other actors, with the aim of learning about the different perspectives on the ongoing electoral process.
This will be the twenty-second (22nd) Electoral Mission deployed by the Organization in Bolivia. This OAS/EOM is made possible thanks to the financial contributions from Canada, Chile, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.