THE ELECTORAL BRIBE ISN’T THE MAIN WAY
Aram Abrahamian
Aravot, Armenia
Nov 1 2006
One of the famous politicians has told during one of discussions
lately that the press, focusing on the electoral bribes, assists the
authority propaganda, the aim of which is to prove that the elections
are rigged with the help of corruptibility of the population. It is
indeed very proper approach for the authorities: they admit that they
commit a small crime, hiding the big ones.
Frankly speaking, I haven’t noticed that the whole press is led by
that logic but that politician’s observation is right; the bribe,
which is given to the voters, is a small, assisting way for the
falsifiers. For example, there are 2 million voters in Armenia, 100000
voters from that two million have voted under influence of electoral
bribe, does it provide the victory of the authority candidates or
parties? Certainly, it doesn’t. And then everybody admits that the
constitutional referendum was rigged and no electoral bribe was given.
Expediency prompts that filling ballots isn’t also the main way
of rigging the elections. It is difficult to imagine that about 1
million ballots were filled in 2000 polling stations of Armenia. It is
much more possible that the number of filled ballots isn’t over 100
thousands. In addition to that figure one more 50 thousands voters,
the representatives of corrupted bureaucracy and the members of their
families who frankly vote for the authority. In addition to it the
army. We got 300000. Then where do 1-1,5 million votes come from,
which the authority always registers in favor it?
The answer is obvious and it may be elucidated by the example of that
same constitutional referendum. The following becomes clear from the
private conversations with "falsifiers of polling stations"; about
250 voters /200 ‘for’, 50 ‘against’/ came to vote in the polling
station which has 2000 voters. The falsifiers added to that 250 a
small ‘1’ making it 1250. The main way for providing the "victory of
the authority" is to "draw figures".
I can’t say how the participation of voters will be in the coming
parliamentary elections. I hope the opposition will not boycott and
will send its representatives to the polling stations.
If all oppositionist parties have 2000 uncorrupted representatives
and the OSCE send 2000 uncorrupted observers, it is possible that
the elections will be held a little fairly. There is easier version;
to sit and gamble; "The elections will be rigged".