OSCE/ODIHR to oobserve 2012 parliamentary elections
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) has decided to deploy 24 long-term and 250 short-term observers in Armenia to monitor the upcoming 2012 parliamentary elections, the OSCE/ODIHR said it in its report entitled a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM).
While the OSCE/ODIHR noted that the country's authorities are preparing for the elections, it also stressed that the political climate is characterized by a strong distrust between government and opposition which is reflected in their expectations about the upcoming elections.
"Political parties contesting the elections have the right by law to free and paid airtime on Public Television and Radio H1. They can also purchase airtime on private broadcasters. Both public and private broadcasters are legally obliged to present impartial and unbiased information on the election campaign of candidates and parties, including in their news programmes. Print media funded by the state bodies are obliged to ensure non-discriminatory and impartial conditions for electoral contestants during the period of the campaign. The National Commission on TV and Radio (NCTR) is responsible for overseeing the electoral campaign on broadcast media, based on a methodology submitted to the CEC 20 days after the elections are called. NCTR is to publish and submit its findings to the CEC three times during the election.22 NCTR informed the OSCE/ODIHR NAM that it will monitor eight stations out of the 90, which will be randomly chosen every day. It is not clear how NCTR will monitor the public broadcaster, which has specific duties during the campaign period," reads the report.
On the other hand, the authorities clearly stated their intention to hold transparent elections. Political parties from the government and the opposition both expressed their lack of trust towards each other.
In considering an observation activity, the OSCE/ODIHR NAM has taken into account the various findings outlined in this report and the views and concerns expressed by all interlocutors and says that the observation missions will follow the formation of election commissions, the transparency of the work of the election commissions, the accreditation of domestic observers, possible de-registration of observer organizations, the adjudication of complaints and appeals by the judiciary, as well as the video-taping of voting and counting activities by observers and proxies.
