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The Electoral Bribe Isn't The Main Way

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  • The Electoral Bribe Isn't The Main Way

    THE ELECTORAL BRIBE ISN'T THE MAIN WAY
    Aram Abrahamian

    Aravot, Armenia
    Nov 1 2006

    One of the famous politicians has told during one of discussions
    lately that the press, focusing on the electoral bribes, assists the
    authority propaganda, the aim of which is to prove that the elections
    are rigged with the help of corruptibility of the population. It is
    indeed very proper approach for the authorities: they admit that they
    commit a small crime, hiding the big ones.

    Frankly speaking, I haven't noticed that the whole press is led by
    that logic but that politician's observation is right; the bribe,
    which is given to the voters, is a small, assisting way for the
    falsifiers. For example, there are 2 million voters in Armenia, 100000
    voters from that two million have voted under influence of electoral
    bribe, does it provide the victory of the authority candidates or
    parties? Certainly, it doesn't. And then everybody admits that the
    constitutional referendum was rigged and no electoral bribe was given.

    Expediency prompts that filling ballots isn't also the main way
    of rigging the elections. It is difficult to imagine that about 1
    million ballots were filled in 2000 polling stations of Armenia. It is
    much more possible that the number of filled ballots isn't over 100
    thousands. In addition to that figure one more 50 thousands voters,
    the representatives of corrupted bureaucracy and the members of their
    families who frankly vote for the authority. In addition to it the
    army. We got 300000. Then where do 1-1,5 million votes come from,
    which the authority always registers in favor it?

    The answer is obvious and it may be elucidated by the example of that
    same constitutional referendum. The following becomes clear from the
    private conversations with "falsifiers of polling stations"; about
    250 voters /200 'for', 50 'against'/ came to vote in the polling
    station which has 2000 voters. The falsifiers added to that 250 a
    small '1' making it 1250. The main way for providing the "victory of
    the authority" is to "draw figures".

    I can't say how the participation of voters will be in the coming
    parliamentary elections. I hope the opposition will not boycott and
    will send its representatives to the polling stations.

    If all oppositionist parties have 2000 uncorrupted representatives
    and the OSCE send 2000 uncorrupted observers, it is possible that
    the elections will be held a little fairly. There is easier version;
    to sit and gamble; "The elections will be rigged".
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