Early Campaign Advertising?
According to the timetable of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Armenia, campaigning for the May Parliamentary Election should not start until “from the day following the last day of registration of the candidates and completed a day before the date of voting.” Yet, despite the CEC site making it quite clear when pre-election campaign should start, political advertising has already started, and both the opposition as well as pro-government forces are guilty.
However, with infinitely more administrative and financial resources at their disposal, pro-goverment parties such as the ruling Republican and newly formed Prosperous Armenia parties are the biggest offenders. As a result, Armenia finds itself in an interesting situation where parties engaged in early political advertising will be able to spend more than the permissible level determined by law for the pre-election campaign itself. This then begs the question whether such activities are violating the electoral code or not?
The full post in English is at the CRD/TI Armenia Election Monitor 2007 here. The Armenian version is here.
