BELIEVING AND PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ELECT

The Civilitas Foundation
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 15:45

Spotlight / Events

At the invitation of the Civilitas Foundation, concerned citizens and
political leaders met to discuss the civil and human right: right to
elect, in light of the just-concluded Yerevan city elections. The
meeting took place at the Yerevan Hotel, Rossini Room, Mr. Armen
Harutyunyan, Ombudsman, and Mr. Vartan Oskanian, President of the
Board of the Civilitas Foundation opened the discussion with an
overview of all that is at stake for a newly developing democracy if
the institution of elections does not take hold. Mr. Harutyunyan spoke
about the fact that the low turnout says much about the opposition’s
inability to attract and keep its own supporters, because the bulk
of the Yerevan city electorate is in opposition to those currently in
office. He said that the apathy that causes this is as much a problem
for the authorities as it is for the opposition, just as the cause
of this apathy is also partly the authorities’ responsibility."

Others, including representatives of various political parties,
spoke about what ought to come next to improve the political and
social environment in which elections take place.

Mr. Oskanian opened the program asking that the discussion focus on
what to do to improve the process in order to improve perceptions of
fairness and legitimacy.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress