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INTERIM REPORT No. 2
A1+
14 February, 2008
~U The election administration appears well-prepared to conduct
the 19 February presidential election. On 9 February, the deadline
for candidates to withdraw from the contest expired; no candidate
withdrew. Nine candidates will participate in the contest.
~U All 1,923 Precinct Election Commissions (PECs) have been formed
to conduct polling on election day.
OSCE/ODIHR observers reported that the PEC training sessions, which
began on 30 January, were well conducted.
~U PECs have eight members, five of which are appointed by political
parties. The large majority of the persons elected as PEC Chairs were
appointed through a 'nomination chain' by the President, the ruling
Republican Party and its coalition partner Prosperous Armenia.
~U The Central Election Commission (CEC) will publish updated voter
lists on its website three days before the election and will announce
the number of voters registered at each PEC.
~U Official public service announcements on the elections were aired
on television. The CEC Chair held a press conference in which he
reassured voters of their freedom of choice and the secrecy of the
vote; the Ombudsman made a statement against 'vote buying', and the
Prosecutor General made a statement highlighting legal penalties for
election violations.
~U The campaign rhetoric has at times been acrimonious.
Eight candidates held campaign rallies. Most passed off peacefully, but
unrest occurred at two of Levon Ter-Petrossian's events. The OSCE/ODIHR
EOM is aware of five incidents in which party or candidate premises
have been damaged either through vandalism, shooting or possible arson.
~U The serving Prime Minister, Serzh Sargsyan, is actively
campaigning. In the regions, OSCE/ODIHR observers reported difficulties
in distinguishing accurately between Serzh Sargsyan's campaign and
the work of local self-government, partly because some mayors are
actively campaigning for Mr Sargsyan.
~U Media monitoring indicates that the amount of political and
election-related information has increased significantly from 21
January (start of official campaign period) onwards. On most of the
media, the candidates' total coverage time was more equitable than
in the previous reporting period.
However, the coverage of Levon Ter-Petrossian in various broadcast
media contained many critical remarks, while the other eight candidates
were presented in a generally positive or neutral manner.
~U To date, 18 formal complaints were filed with the CEC. On 1
February, the Constitutional Court received a petition by a candidate,
Arman Melikyan, which it dismissed. On 8 February, the Court agreed
to hear a petition by Levon Ter-Petrossian claiming that biased media
coverage constituted "obstacles ... that make his further participation
in the election impossible".
A1+
14 February, 2008
~U The election administration appears well-prepared to conduct
the 19 February presidential election. On 9 February, the deadline
for candidates to withdraw from the contest expired; no candidate
withdrew. Nine candidates will participate in the contest.
~U All 1,923 Precinct Election Commissions (PECs) have been formed
to conduct polling on election day.
OSCE/ODIHR observers reported that the PEC training sessions, which
began on 30 January, were well conducted.
~U PECs have eight members, five of which are appointed by political
parties. The large majority of the persons elected as PEC Chairs were
appointed through a 'nomination chain' by the President, the ruling
Republican Party and its coalition partner Prosperous Armenia.
~U The Central Election Commission (CEC) will publish updated voter
lists on its website three days before the election and will announce
the number of voters registered at each PEC.
~U Official public service announcements on the elections were aired
on television. The CEC Chair held a press conference in which he
reassured voters of their freedom of choice and the secrecy of the
vote; the Ombudsman made a statement against 'vote buying', and the
Prosecutor General made a statement highlighting legal penalties for
election violations.
~U The campaign rhetoric has at times been acrimonious.
Eight candidates held campaign rallies. Most passed off peacefully, but
unrest occurred at two of Levon Ter-Petrossian's events. The OSCE/ODIHR
EOM is aware of five incidents in which party or candidate premises
have been damaged either through vandalism, shooting or possible arson.
~U The serving Prime Minister, Serzh Sargsyan, is actively
campaigning. In the regions, OSCE/ODIHR observers reported difficulties
in distinguishing accurately between Serzh Sargsyan's campaign and
the work of local self-government, partly because some mayors are
actively campaigning for Mr Sargsyan.
~U Media monitoring indicates that the amount of political and
election-related information has increased significantly from 21
January (start of official campaign period) onwards. On most of the
media, the candidates' total coverage time was more equitable than
in the previous reporting period.
However, the coverage of Levon Ter-Petrossian in various broadcast
media contained many critical remarks, while the other eight candidates
were presented in a generally positive or neutral manner.
~U To date, 18 formal complaints were filed with the CEC. On 1
February, the Constitutional Court received a petition by a candidate,
Arman Melikyan, which it dismissed. On 8 February, the Court agreed
to hear a petition by Levon Ter-Petrossian claiming that biased media
coverage constituted "obstacles ... that make his further participation
in the election impossible".