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THE PACE HAS PREPARED A REPORT CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
April 22 2013
Today, on the first day of the PACE spring session, the report on the
presidential election that took place in the Republic of Armenia on
February 18 authored by Karin Woldseth, the head of the Norwegian
delegation and a member of the Committee on Political Affairs and
Human Rights, will be discussed. The report points out the results of
the PACE monitoring mission. The document describes the presidential
election held on February 18 "as generally well-administered,"
but it also points out a series of shortcomings. The section called
"Conclusions," in particular, reads: "A number of shortcomings were
observed during the February 18, 2013, presidential election, in
particular the abuse of administrative resources and the interference
in the election process by candidate proxies and supporters that
run counter to European standards for democratic elections and that
negatively affect the public trust in the electoral process. We urge
the authorities to address these serious shortcomings, investigate
all allegations of electoral fraud and misconduct and punish any
perpetrators in line with the law." The report expresses concern at
the fact that voters' choice was narrowed down by the decision of
main political forces not to nominate candidates for the election.
Regarding the election campaign, the report reads: "Contestants were
able to campaign freely. Media fulfilled their legal obligation to
provide balanced coverage. At the same time, a lack of impartiality
of the public administration, misuse of administrative resources,
and cases of pressure on voters were of concern. While election day
was calm and orderly, some serious violations were observed." The
PACE report presents the February 18 presidential election in the
context of the events of March 1, 2008, and it is stated that this
was the first election organized after those tragic events. As an
important feature of the 2013 presidential election, it is mentioned:
"Three main political forces didn't participate in the election,
the opposition forces failed to agree on a common candidate; this
affected the dynamics of competition and scope of choice in this
election." The document prepared by the PACE states that candidate
Raffi Hovhannisyan's campaign was the most visible and notes regarding
Serzh Sargsyan's election campaign: "Incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan
had an extensive network of campaign and Republican Party offices
throughout the country (1 186 outside Yerevan alone) at his disposal.
The other candidates had only a limited number of offices in the larger
cities." Deeming this election a step forward as compared to the 2008
election, the report reads: "The campaign regulations did not provide
sufficient protection against the misuse of administrative resources,
nor against the blurring of the distinction between the State and the
ruling party. OSCE/ODIHR long-term observers verified instances of
misuse of administrative resources in favor of the incumbent, both
in Yerevan and in the regions, such as pressure on public workers
by superiors to attend campaign events, campaign offices located
in buildings occupied by State and local government bodies. A large
number of public and civil servants took leave to participate in the
campaign activities of the incumbent president, not distinguishing
between State and political party as well as between official and
campaign functions." The PACE report also points out a number of
cases of electoral fraud, including ballot boxes not properly sealed,
seemingly identical signatures on the voters' lists, double voting,
proxy voting, multiple voting. The report states that there were many
cases when voters were turned away because their names were not on
the voters' lists. Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/04/22/153815/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia
April 22 2013
Today, on the first day of the PACE spring session, the report on the
presidential election that took place in the Republic of Armenia on
February 18 authored by Karin Woldseth, the head of the Norwegian
delegation and a member of the Committee on Political Affairs and
Human Rights, will be discussed. The report points out the results of
the PACE monitoring mission. The document describes the presidential
election held on February 18 "as generally well-administered,"
but it also points out a series of shortcomings. The section called
"Conclusions," in particular, reads: "A number of shortcomings were
observed during the February 18, 2013, presidential election, in
particular the abuse of administrative resources and the interference
in the election process by candidate proxies and supporters that
run counter to European standards for democratic elections and that
negatively affect the public trust in the electoral process. We urge
the authorities to address these serious shortcomings, investigate
all allegations of electoral fraud and misconduct and punish any
perpetrators in line with the law." The report expresses concern at
the fact that voters' choice was narrowed down by the decision of
main political forces not to nominate candidates for the election.
Regarding the election campaign, the report reads: "Contestants were
able to campaign freely. Media fulfilled their legal obligation to
provide balanced coverage. At the same time, a lack of impartiality
of the public administration, misuse of administrative resources,
and cases of pressure on voters were of concern. While election day
was calm and orderly, some serious violations were observed." The
PACE report presents the February 18 presidential election in the
context of the events of March 1, 2008, and it is stated that this
was the first election organized after those tragic events. As an
important feature of the 2013 presidential election, it is mentioned:
"Three main political forces didn't participate in the election,
the opposition forces failed to agree on a common candidate; this
affected the dynamics of competition and scope of choice in this
election." The document prepared by the PACE states that candidate
Raffi Hovhannisyan's campaign was the most visible and notes regarding
Serzh Sargsyan's election campaign: "Incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan
had an extensive network of campaign and Republican Party offices
throughout the country (1 186 outside Yerevan alone) at his disposal.
The other candidates had only a limited number of offices in the larger
cities." Deeming this election a step forward as compared to the 2008
election, the report reads: "The campaign regulations did not provide
sufficient protection against the misuse of administrative resources,
nor against the blurring of the distinction between the State and the
ruling party. OSCE/ODIHR long-term observers verified instances of
misuse of administrative resources in favor of the incumbent, both
in Yerevan and in the regions, such as pressure on public workers
by superiors to attend campaign events, campaign offices located
in buildings occupied by State and local government bodies. A large
number of public and civil servants took leave to participate in the
campaign activities of the incumbent president, not distinguishing
between State and political party as well as between official and
campaign functions." The PACE report also points out a number of
cases of electoral fraud, including ballot boxes not properly sealed,
seemingly identical signatures on the voters' lists, double voting,
proxy voting, multiple voting. The report states that there were many
cases when voters were turned away because their names were not on
the voters' lists. Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/04/22/153815/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia