AS LONG AS THERE IS NO CANDIDATE

A1+
April 14, 2009

Politics

"There are no violations at the pre-election headquarters," told
"A1+" lawyer Hrair Tovmasyan.

"There is no pre-election campaign going on at the moment due
to lack of candidates. They will come out on April 25-30 after
registration. There can’t be a campaign without candidates," Hrair
Tovmasyan went on to say.

In general, whatever is not prohibited by law is permitted.

The mayor election campaign is set to launch on May 2, yet the
Republican Party’s headquarters are already campaigning in some
districts.

"It is possible to set up headquarters and start campaigning after
the end of each election," told "A1+" Republican Party press speaker,
NA Deputy Edward Sharmazanov.

As for the lists posted in some districts, Edward Sharmazanov recalled
the clarification given by the Central Electoral Commission during
the last elections.

"The CEC decided and made it clear that it is not considered to be
campaigning if there are no slogans or if the board is not bigger than
7 square meters and the expenses are not taken out of the pre-electoral
campaign fund."

Hrair Tovmasyan told "A1+" that taking into account the importance
of the stages; the RA Electoral Code has specified the pre-election
stage concept; in other words, what is allowed and what is not. Hrair
Tovmasyan believes that working in the pre-electoral stage is not
a violation of the law. The mayor may be the current mayor and a
running candidate.

Perhaps this is not a concrete violation of the law, but rather the
unequal opportunities for candidates.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress