PRE-ELECTION COURSES YEARS BEFORE
Support A1+!4 years before the next elections in Armenia the European experts promised to support when implementing the electoral reforms. From February 24-27 OSCE Yerevan Office and CE Venice Commission are holding a round table discussion on “Electoral Reforms in Armenia”.
CE Venice Commission expert Michael Krennerich voiced hope today that thanks to their support the next elections in Armenia will be up to the democratic standards. OSCE/ODIHR expert Jessie Pilgrim added that they wouldn’t hold even the seminar if they didn’t hope so.
Issues regarding making the electoral lists, registration of candidates/parties, suffrage, role of Mass Media during pre-election campaign and the voting day are discussed during the round table.
According to Michael Krennerich, it’s not essential by whom a candidate is nominated, civil initiative, a party or a bloc. He thinks that even the fact that a candidate was nominated under deposit or he gained an appropriate number of signatures is not essential, either.
Central Electoral Committee members of Armenia who were present for discussion expressed discontent that it’s difficult to check signatures, it will be better to fix deposit. CEC members are sure in that case the candidates who don’t have the chance to win won’t partake in the electoral campaign and won’t withdraw getting into some “games”.
