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Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit
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May 12 vote: a touchstone for Armenian democracy
Strasbourg, 13.04.2007 – The forthcoming parliamentary elections in
Armenia on May 12 will be a crucial touchstone for the degree of
maturity of democracy in Armenia, concluded the four-member (*)
pre-election delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) at the end of a visit to Yerevan from 10 to 13 April 2007.
The delegation was heartened by the assurances of the Armenian
authorities, and all political stakeholders it met, that it is their
intention to hold elections that fully meet Council of Europe standards
for democratic elections. In this respect the delegation stresses that
it is the responsibility of all parties and stakeholders to adhere to
the rules that a genuinely democratic process demands.
The delegation took note of the improved election code, which has
generally passed the expert analysis of the Council of Europe’s Venice
Commission. The election code forms a sound basis for the conduct of
democratic elections if it is fully implemented in good faith.
The delegation welcomes the efforts by the authorities to create a
centralised voters’ list, in line with long-standing recommendations by
the Parliamentary Assembly. However, the delegation also notes the
concerns of several interlocutors that the accuracy of the voters’ lists
still leaves a lot to be desired. It therefore calls upon the
authorities to continue, and if necessary step up, all efforts to ensure
the highest possible accuracy of the voters’ list on Election Day. In
this respect, the delegation regrets the reluctance by the majority of
the political players in Armenia to introduce the inking of voters’
fingers, as advised by the Venice Commission, as a proven mechanism to
prevent multiple voting.
The delegation was concerned over its overall impression of a lack of
popular interest in the election process by the electorate. Such
attitudes of apathy, or even cynicism, are not conducive to the
development of democracy in Armenia. The delegation was not able, with a
few notable exceptions, to discern marked differences between the
political platforms of the contenders. It was left with the impression
that the upcoming elections are regarded by many as a struggle between
political elites and not between concepts and ideas. In relation to
this, the delegation is concerned that, in a number of constituencies,
only one candidate is running for the majoritarian mandate, thereby not
allowing the electorate in those constituencies a fully democratic
choice.
The delegation would like to stress that a level playing field in the
campaign, and full respect for the principles of freedom of expression
and assembly, are key conditions for democratic elections. It is
therefore concerned by the uneven conditions for the political players,
as highlighted by the media monitoring sponsored by the Council of
Europe. In this respect, the exhorbitant costs for paid political
advertising demanded by broadcasters are deeply regretted.
The fact that out-of-country voting has been abolished in the amended
election code is of concern to the delegation, as, in practice, it will
disenfranchise a sizeable part of the Armenian population that is living
abroad.
The delegation strongly condemns the recent attacks on the headquarters
of a political party in Armenia. It would like to reiterate its position
that violence and intimidation have no place in a democratic society.
Electoral violations during past elections have never been
satisfactorily investigated and prosecuted. A climate of impunity for
electoral violations and election related violence can not be allowed to
exist in Armenia. The delegation therefore calls upon the competent
authorities to fully investigate any election-related complaints that
are brought to its attention and, where violations are found, to provide
redress and prosecute the violators to the fullest extent of the law.
Lastly, the delegation calls on all political actors to use the little
time that is left before May 12 to ensure that the forthcoming
parliamentary elections are fully in line with Council of Europe
standards.
(*) The pre-election delegation visited Yerevan from 10 to 13 April
at the invitation of the President of the National Assembly of Armenia.
The cross-party delegation was composed of Leo Platvoet (Netherlands,
UEL), Head of Delegation, Georges Colombier (France, EPP/CD), Ewald
Lindinger (Austria, SOC) and Bernard Marquet (Monaco, ALDE). During its
visit, the delegation met with the President of the Republic, the
President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and the Ministers
of Justice and Foreign Affairs, the Chairman of the Central Election
Commission, a cross-section of political parties running in these
elections, members of the Constitutional Court and the Office of the
Human Rights Defender of Armenia, as well as representatives of the mass
media and NGO communities.
Contact: Vladimir Dronov, mobile: +33 663 493 792.
The Parliamentary Assembly brings together 315 members from the national
parliaments of the 46 member states.
President: René van der Linden (Netherlands, EPP/CD); Secretary
General of the Assembly: Mateo Sorinas.
Political Groups: SOC (Socialist Group); EPP/CD (Group of the European
People’s Party); ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe);
EDG (European Democratic Group); UEL (Group of the Unified European
Left).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
