§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria he uses when assessing the acceptability to Her Majesty's Government of elections held in Central American states; how far these criteria were fulfilled in recent elections in Guatemala; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarAs my right hon. and learned Friend, the then Minister of State, the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) told the hon. Member on 16 April 1985, we expect voters to be offered a genuine political choice in elections and that the political parties should have equal freedom to campaign. In Guatemala, official Western observers were satisfied that both these criteria were met.