PESSIMISM OR REALISM?

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| 13:16:15 | 18-06-2005 | Politics |

“The reformation of the Electoral Code should be carried out in
three directions – the presence of balanced election commissions,
proper public control and equality between the candidates”, candidate
of juridical sciences Hrayr Tovmasyan considers. In his opinion no
positive changes can be observes as regards the formation of the
election commissions. H. Tovmasyan noted however certain progress
referring to the public control and expansion of the rights of the
observers and empowered persons. No one has the right to drive out
an empowered person from the polling station, excluding arrests. As
for securing equal rights for all the candidates, Tovmasyan does not
see any progress.

He gave a positive estimate to the fact that henceforth the rolls
will be compiled not by the local self-government bodies but by
the appropriate police departments. Nevertheless there is certain
vagueness, which is to become clear at practice. Hrayr Tovmasyan is
also concerned over the fact that the rolls in military units and
colonies cannot be published. Thus, public control is ruled out while
the military vote. The second problem is connected with the appeal
of the decision of the election commission. The order established
can create deadlock situations and exclude efficient protection
mechanisms. According to the amendments all the complaints are
considered on common ground. “It means that the complaints will be
considered during a month and the terms of contesting the outcomes
of the elections will be expired by the time”, he says.

H. Tovmasyan said it would be naïve to bind justice of the upcoming
elections with the amendments to the Electoral Code . “This law is
a part of political and legislative system of the country and the
protection mechanisms depend the independence of the juridical system
and the way the authorities defend the rights of the citizens. Taking
into account the nature of the above mentioned bodies it is easy to
say that proper atmosphere for fair elections has not been created
in Armenia yet.

Victoria Abrahamyan

–Boundary_(ID_E5h2R+lpV9aZzJjODnP/kw)–