A 13-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will carry out an election observation mission from 16 to 19 March to observe the  municipal elections scheduled in the Netherlands on 18 March 2026.

Prior to the Election Day, the delegation, led by Konstantinos Koukas (Greece, EPP/CCE), will meet representatives of the Electoral Council and the Elections Team of the Ministry of Interior.

Meetings are also scheduled with the delegation of the Netherlands to the Congress, members of the diplomatic corps as well as with representatives domestic and NGOs and the media. Finally, the delegation will hold an exchange of views with representatives and candidates of political parties running in these elections. 

On election day, six Congress teams will be deployed randomly across the country to monitor the election procedures in polling stations.

In 2022, the Congress had observed municipal elections in the Netherlands and had assessed positively the conduct of elections, commending the high level of trust in elections among stakeholders and the efficient organisation of the polls. They noted some issues that need to be addressed by the Dutch authorities, concretely strengthening political finance regulations, fighting hate speech, reviewing the practice of proxy voting and opening a reflection on unelected mayors.

A statement of preliminary conclusions will be released by the Head of Delegation on the Congress website on 19 March 2026, at approximately 14:00 (Strasbourg time).

Congress delegation

Mr Konstantinos KOUKAS, Greece, EPP/CCE, L, Head of delegation

Ms Danela ARSOVSKA, North Macedonia, EPP/CCE, L

Mr Zdenek BROZ, Czechia, ILDG, L

Ms Glòria FREIXA I VILARDELL, Spain, NI-NR, R

Mr Hayk GRIGORYAN, Armenia, EPP/CCE, L

Ms Günes PEHLIVAN, Türkiye, SOC/G/PD, R

Mr Johan ROCKLIND, Sweden, SOC/G/PD, L

Mr Jorge SEQUEIRA, Portugal, SOC/G/PD, L

Mr Peter THORNTON, United-Kingdom, ILDG, R

Expert

Ms Jelena JERINIC, member of the Group of Independent Experts and Congress expert on electoral matters

Congress Secretariat

Ms Mathilde GIRARDI, Team Leader, Election Observation Officer

Ms Valeria STEIGER, Election Observation Officer

Mr Alexandru SIMION, Election Observation Assistant
 

See also: Congress webpage on the observation of local and regional elections

Contact: Stephanie Poirel