The upcoming parliamentary elections differ from the previous ones by the fact that many candidates are suggesting their opponents to make an agreement memorandum on supporting democratic elections and not making electoral violations.
Several days ago, the owner of “Hayastan” (Armenia) department store, “Prosperous Armenia” party member Hayrapet Hayrapetyan (nominated in Precinct 4 under the majority system), also made such a suggestion. By the way, despite the fact that the latter suggests to his opponents to agree not to commit electoral violations and negative PR against each other, he avoided meeting with OSCE observers together with the other candidates of that precinct. The mentioned meeting was organized with the participation of Suren Mamikonyan (LS), Aram Manukyan (ANM), Zohrab Zohrabyan (ARP) and Hrayr Karapetyan (ARF). Yesterday the PA representative invited his opponents “to make an agreement memorandum on supporting democratic elections in Precinct 4,” where Manukyan, Zohrabyan and Karapetyan were present as well. The LS and NU candidates did not attend the meeting despite the fact that they had been notified about it in advance. The only candidate nominated by civic initiative was present there too. According to this memorandum of mutual agreement the candidates agree to support organizing democratic elections, not to commit electoral violations, and to establish joint headquarters in charge of struggling against possible violations, and promptly informing the media about possible violations. Notwithstanding, it is a requirement of law to organize free, fair and democratic elections, and there is no need for any agreements or memorandums. We don’t know who advised the PA candidate to suggest that, as they have to follow the law without it too. The candidates believe that the “word and promise” of an Armenian is more important than the law, thus they have decided that their promise would be decisive for them. Following that meeting, the ANM representative said that despite the fact that he had attended the meeting, he didn’t believe that it would work since it had been initiated by the PA, which, as he said, had long before started campaigning illegally. “However, I am signing since I am ready to join all actions that would support organizing democratic elections. I don’t believe the elections will be fair since the government has tools 1000 times stronger than mine to support organizing free elections. And if the government powers are petitioning the opposition powers to organize fair elections, it seems absurd. I don’t believe it since several days before the elections we received guests representing the ARP and PA in our home who were petitioning me to join their parties. I don’t believe them, as they give promises, and along with those, asphalt roads. I also don’t believe them, as my neighbors say that the PA has promised to give 30 pieces of roofing material and they have already got the roof prepared for the new materials. In the lower strata of society people are doing their jobs, and in the upper strata people are trying to make us believe that everything is fair.” Once PA member Hayrapet Hayrapetyan heard about this, he interrupted and said that they hadn’t promised any construction materials. However, Hayrapetyan refused to answer a journalist’s question as to whether they had distributed agriculture materials or potatoes. Yesterday Hayrapetyan said, concerning his initiative, “We are signing to make everyone understand that we are not fighting with each other in Precinct 4 and that candidates can also co-operate.” ARF member Hrayr Karapetyan said that since the time of his accreditation, he had always claimed that the upcoming elections should be very fair and democratic. “All the preconditions exist. These meetings are to prove that in Precinct 4 the candidates are trying to organize fair elections. All that is written in the memorandum is also written in the Electoral Code,” he said. Answering a question as to whether the memorandum was a guarantee that the elections would be fair, ARP member Zohrab Zohrabyan said, “If you don’t believe us, do you want us to go to a notary office to approve it officially?” and added, “I don’t like ties. People often ask me why I don’t wear a tie during meetings and I say that it doesn’t matter whether you are wearing a tie or not when giving promises. The most important thing is not to cheat people.” When the ANM representative was speaking about violating the pre-election campaign principles, he also meant the large posters of the PA attached around the city before the starting date of the official campaign period. Also, the PA representative was asked many questions about whether the posters were not a law violation too, to which he answered, “I don’t think it is a law violation since the posters are attached on the headquarters of our party and contain the name and logo of the party. There may be headquarters in buildings too, and thus attaching such posters on those buildings is not a law violation. Where there is no poster, there is no headquarter.” Certainly, the PA made a good decision attaching the picture of their leader in Precinct 4, since the picture of their candidate would not have any effect, as people don’t know him. By the way, according to the mentioned memorandum, the candidates also agree to not use negative PR tools, and campaign in fair and free conditions. We wonder whether they know what negative PR really means. The activities of a politician (also of a future politician) should be open and transparent, and the voters should know everything about them and their activities. How will negative PR differ from the real facts?