LOCAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA SHOW THAT LOCAL DEMOCRACY NEEDS FURTHER TANGIBLE CONSOLIDATION

Panorama.am
19:28 29/09/2008

Congress delegation, headed by Ms Véronique Moreira (France, NR),
arrived in Yerevan on Wednesday last and conducted a number of key
meetings with representatives of institutional bodies, political
parties, NGOs and media.

Subsequently, observers deployed to all electoral districts in Yerevan
and visited some 100 polling stations.

Council of Europe observers, at yesterday’s local elections in Yerevan,
are worried that lack of transparency, and tensions at a number of
locations overshadow the continuing development of local democracy
in Armenia.

On the one hand, observers noted that low participation in areas
where there was an election for the Community Council underscores
low interest among voters in local government affairs.

On the other hand, in areas where there was a perceived high
political stake, irregularities, frequently reported tensions
in polling stations and disproportionately high turn-out in some
instances give the impression that political democratic culture in
Armenia need further buttressing.

Amidst reports conveyed to them of transporting voters from a
locality to another and of bribery, they themselves observed a lack
of transparency in both voting and counting procedures.

During the Autumn Session of Congress (December 2008) Mr Paolo Rondelli
(San Marino, SOC), Rapporteur, will present all the findings of
the mission.

The Congress encourages the Armenian authorities to take advantage
of its recommendations, particularly with a view to the tangible
consolidation of local democracy in the country.

Members of the delegation: РMs V̩ronique Moreira, Congress (France,
NR) – Head of delegation – Mr Paolo Rondelli, Congress (San Marino,
SOC) – Rapporteur – Mr Joe Conway, Congress (Ireland, ILDG) – Mr
Mihkel Juhkami, Congress (Estonia, EPP/CD) – Mr Dobrica Milovanovic,
Congress (Serbia, NR) – Ms Dominique Ronga, Congress (France, SOC) – Mr
Uldis Rozenbergs, Congress (Latvia, EPP/CD) Congress Secretariat – Mrs
Antonella Cagnolati, Director – Mr Michel Rivollier, Project Manager
РMs G̦nul Kocak, Secretariat Press contacts: Dmitri Marchenkov,
Communication Unit, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of
the Council of Europe Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 32 81 ; Fax+33 (0)3 88 41
27 51 ; dmitri.marchenkov@coe.int ;

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