U.S. AMBASSADOR HOPES TO SEE ELECTIONS TO ELDERS' COUNCIL OF YEREVAN WITHOUT VOTER BRIBERY AND USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCE
ARMINFO
Thursday, April 18, 12:15
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern hopes that the ruling party
in Armenia and the other political forces will avoid voter bribery
and use of the administrative resource at the upcoming elections to
the Elders' Council of Yerevan. The ambassador made such statement
in an interview with a local newspaper "168 Zham."
The U.S. diplomat thinks that true competition implying consistent
opposition and the authorities avoiding use of the administrative
resource is an important component of elections in any democratic
state.
Ambassador Heffern said that at the past presidential election the
opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian made a good showing. The diplomat
hopes for a peaceful political struggle also at the upcoming municipal
elections.
To recall, March 21 was deadline for registration of political forces
and their candidates for the May 5 elections to the Elders' Council of
Yerevan. Six parties and a union have submitted their party lists to
run to the Elders' Council of Yerevan: Republican Party of Armenia,
Prosperous Party of Armenia, Orinats Yerkir, Armenian National
Congress, Mission, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and "Barev Yerevan" Union.
Political parties will fight for 65 seats at the Elders' Council.
The election campaign started on April 7. The elections will be held
on May 5. May 4 is a say of "silence" when campaign is prohibited. By
preliminary data, 261 observers will be following the elections.
ARMINFO
Thursday, April 18, 12:15
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern hopes that the ruling party
in Armenia and the other political forces will avoid voter bribery
and use of the administrative resource at the upcoming elections to
the Elders' Council of Yerevan. The ambassador made such statement
in an interview with a local newspaper "168 Zham."
The U.S. diplomat thinks that true competition implying consistent
opposition and the authorities avoiding use of the administrative
resource is an important component of elections in any democratic
state.
Ambassador Heffern said that at the past presidential election the
opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian made a good showing. The diplomat
hopes for a peaceful political struggle also at the upcoming municipal
elections.
To recall, March 21 was deadline for registration of political forces
and their candidates for the May 5 elections to the Elders' Council of
Yerevan. Six parties and a union have submitted their party lists to
run to the Elders' Council of Yerevan: Republican Party of Armenia,
Prosperous Party of Armenia, Orinats Yerkir, Armenian National
Congress, Mission, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and "Barev Yerevan" Union.
Political parties will fight for 65 seats at the Elders' Council.
The election campaign started on April 7. The elections will be held
on May 5. May 4 is a say of "silence" when campaign is prohibited. By
preliminary data, 261 observers will be following the elections.