PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY AND RPA CONSIDERABLY EXCEED THE LIMIT OF CAMPAIGNING EXPENSES, TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL-ARMENIA REPORTS

ArmInfo
2007-05-31 13:48:00

Prosperous Armenia party and the Republican Party of Armenia
considerably exceeded the 60 million AMD limit of campaigning expenses
stipulated by the law, Transparency International-Armenia Center for
Regional Development reports.

Speaking at a press conference, Thursday, Amalia Kostanyan, head of
Transparency International-Armenia, said the surveys were conducted
with the support of the Open Society Institute Fund. Both the expenses
of political parties for their campaigns and the use of administrative
resources were surveyed in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. "Had the
survey embraced the whole country, the figures would be much higher,"
A. Kostanyan said.

Prosperous Armenia party spent the most – 129,6 million drams, twice
as much as allowed. RPA spent 79.1 million drams, ARFD – 50.7 mln
drams. Orinats Yerkir – 33.1 million drams, Heritage – 24 million
drams. The remaining parties spent less, she said. A. Kostanyan added
that the surveys did not take into account the so-called "charity"
i.e. when parties declare that the artists allegedly perform during
the campaigns without compensation.

For the illegal expenses of the parties Amalia Kostanyan blamed
imperfect legislation and the free interpretation of the provisions
in the Electoral Code by the Central Electoral Commission leadership.

CEC has repeatedly stated that charitable events held by parties before
the pre-election campaign is not campaigning. The organisation leaves
alone the rich bribes given to voters on the election day and the
cases when electors voted for a party under pressure. The authorities
openly campaigned for their parties. Suspension of any international
financing and cancellation of all kind of elections in the country
till the punishment of those guilty in election rigging could become
a way out of such situation, she said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress