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The President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio acknowledges the specific situation in Armenia, which requires the holding of early elections and welcomes the commitment of the Armenian authorities to abide by international standards when revising the Electoral Code. The relevant statement was released on Friday by the President of the Venice Commission following the discussions held with the First Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia at the 116th session of the Commission.

Gianni Buquicchio notes the proposed amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code pursue legitimate aims and seem mostly positive.

“[The Venice Commission] welcomes in particular all steps taken to facilitate the exercise of the right to vote, to extend access to media, the rights of observers and more generally the transparency of the electoral process, as well as to struggle against electoral fraud; Welcomes the abolition of restrictions on the number of participants in coalitions to be formed after the first round, in conformity with a key recommendation of the Venice Commission and ODIHR,” reads the statement in part.

The Commission also welcomes the reduction of the electoral thresholds and thresholds applied for returning electoral deposits; the reduction of the amount of deposits, the reduction of deadlines for the accreditation of observers and media representatives, as well as the suppression of obstacles to the work of observers, such as the possibility to limit their number.

Although the statement recalls the reservations of the Commission with respect to major changes in the electoral system, such as the abolition of district lists, it adds these reservations are less relevant if there is consensus among political forces about the change.