Bogotá, Colombia – May 26, 2026 – Dr. Leonel Fernández, former President of the Dominican Republic and a renowned regional leader, has begun his deployment in Colombia as Chief of the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the Presidential Elections to be held on May 31. This appointment underscores his extensive experience and commitment to promoting democracy and electoral transparency throughout Latin America.
The OAS Electoral Observation Mission (OAS/EOM), under Fernández’s leadership, is composed of 96 observers and specialists from 24 nationalities. The Mission will be present in 26 departments, the Capital District, and five cities abroad (Madrid, Barcelona, New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C.) to observe the electoral process involving Colombian citizens residing outside the country. Since May 19, Mission specialists have actively participated in technical activities within the electoral calendar, including simulations and testing of vote-counting and results transmission systems.
The Mission will monitor key aspects of the electoral process, including electoral administration, voting abroad, electoral technology, political financing, electoral justice, electoral violence, as well as campaigns, media coverage, and digital communication. During its deployment, Fernández and his team will meet with electoral and government authorities, presidential candidates, political leaders, representatives of civil society, and members of the diplomatic corps to gain a comprehensive understanding of the electoral process.
This mission in Colombia marks the twenty-fifth (25th) Electoral Observation Mission deployed by the OAS in the country and is made possible through the financial support of Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, and Italy.
A Distinguished Record in Service of Regional Democracy
Leading the OAS/EOM in Colombia adds to a distinguished list of international electoral missions headed by the political leader, further consolidating his reputation as a defender of democratic integrity. His previous experience includes:
Bolivia (2016): Fernández led the OAS/EOM during the Constitutional Referendum held on February 21, 2016. On that occasion, he highlighted the civic-minded participation of the electorate while noting delays in the publication of official results by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). His report recommended legislative improvements to the results transmission process and ruled out fraud despite identifying irregularities in the publication of electoral data.
Ecuador (2017): As Chief of the OAS/EOM for the General Elections, the former Dominican president oversaw both the first and second rounds of voting. He presented a report to the OAS Permanent Council highlighting the transparency and openness demonstrated by the National Electoral Council (CNE), marking a significant improvement compared to previous electoral processes.
Mexico (2018): The intellectual and academic led the Foreign Visitors Mission (FVM) for the Federal and Local Elections held on July 1, 2018. This was one of the largest missions deployed by the OAS in Mexico. After meeting with senior authorities, his final report, presented in November 2018, underscored the strength and credibility of Mexico’s electoral institutions.
At the conclusion of Election Day in Colombia, the Mission will present a comprehensive report containing its observations and recommendations, with the aim of contributing to the continued strengthening of the country’s electoral processes—a responsibility that Dr. Fernández has carried out with dedication and professionalism throughout his international career.
