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ELECTION OBSERVERS CRITICAL OF ARMENIA POLL
Deutsche Welle
May 7 2012
Germany
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said
on Monday that democratic failings undermined what was an otherwise
peaceful election that featured an open campaign.
A statement released on the OSCE's website said that certain aspects
of a new electoral code were not implemented adequately, and that
pressure on voters as well as a deficient complaints process were
shortcomings in the poll.
"Armenia deserves recognition for its electoral reforms and its
open and peaceful campaign environment but, in this race, several
stakeholders too often failed to comply with the law and election
commissions too often failed to enforce it," said Francois-Xavier de
Donnea, the Special coordinator who led the short-term OSCE observer
mission. "As a result, the international commitments to which Armenia
has freely subscribed were not always respected."
But in contrast to Armenia's last election in 2008 that left 10 dead,
Sunday's poll was a step in the right direction.
"The high turnout of over 60 percent, the wide age range among voters,
and the clear understanding of the electoral process by young and
old alike were impressive, but reports of widespread interference
with the running of polling stations, voters' movement and casting of
votes throughout the day by certain political parties raised serious
concerns," said Emma Nicholson, the head of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe delegation.
Armenia's central election commission said President Serzh Sarkisian's
Republican party took 44.05 percent of the vote after all ballots
had been counted.
The second best showing was for the Prosperous Armenia party, which
was previously the Republican party's coalition partner but has turned
into a political rival.
From: A. Papazian
Deutsche Welle
May 7 2012
Germany
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said
on Monday that democratic failings undermined what was an otherwise
peaceful election that featured an open campaign.
A statement released on the OSCE's website said that certain aspects
of a new electoral code were not implemented adequately, and that
pressure on voters as well as a deficient complaints process were
shortcomings in the poll.
"Armenia deserves recognition for its electoral reforms and its
open and peaceful campaign environment but, in this race, several
stakeholders too often failed to comply with the law and election
commissions too often failed to enforce it," said Francois-Xavier de
Donnea, the Special coordinator who led the short-term OSCE observer
mission. "As a result, the international commitments to which Armenia
has freely subscribed were not always respected."
But in contrast to Armenia's last election in 2008 that left 10 dead,
Sunday's poll was a step in the right direction.
"The high turnout of over 60 percent, the wide age range among voters,
and the clear understanding of the electoral process by young and
old alike were impressive, but reports of widespread interference
with the running of polling stations, voters' movement and casting of
votes throughout the day by certain political parties raised serious
concerns," said Emma Nicholson, the head of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe delegation.
Armenia's central election commission said President Serzh Sarkisian's
Republican party took 44.05 percent of the vote after all ballots
had been counted.
The second best showing was for the Prosperous Armenia party, which
was previously the Republican party's coalition partner but has turned
into a political rival.
From: A. Papazian