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Pursuant to Article 145 of the Constitutional Law the NA Rules of Procedure, the NA Civil Contract Faction nominated Anna Grigoryan, Zhirayr Karapetyan and Nune Hovhannisyan as candidates for the members of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).

The MPs of the Civil Contract Faction Lilit Minasyan, Armen Khachatryan and Arpine Davoyan voiced about the candidates’ biographical data, professional qualities and work experience.

“It is difficult to assess the role of the Central Electoral Commission in establishing democratic institutions and preserving democratic principles and values,” Anna Grigoryan, a candidate for the CEC member, expressed such opinion. According to her, this institute, with its content and toolkit, is the primary guarantor of recording and fixing the irrevocable will expressed by the RA citizens. From this point of view, the candidate highlighted the fact that the Commission should be guided exclusively by the interests of the RA citizens and the Republic of Armenia.

“In this crucial period for the RA, the CEC is the primary player ensuring the uninterrupted process of democracy and the full functioning of democratic institutions,” the candidate said.

Anna Grigoryan referred to the parliamentary elections and the elections of the local self-government bodies held last years. She stated that the CEC fully serves, and it is faithful to its title. According to her, the CEC carries out large-scale work aimed at public awareness, raising civic awareness and forming citizens’ knowledge about electoral processes.

The next candidate, Zhirayr Karapetyan informed that he has always cooperated with the CEC since 2006 and assured that if he gains the trust of the deputies, he will be able to act more efficiently and purposefully and provide feedback between the CEC and subordinate committees, developing the election administration and minimizing possible omissions and errors. The candidate highlighted not only the election administration and the establishment of electoral systems, but also public trust in them.

“Elections are one of the important elements of democracy and serve as a prerequisite for democracy,” another candidate for the CEC member Nune Hovhannisyan said. She referred to the legislative reforms carried out in the field, noting that they had an important strategic importance, because the purpose was to raise the elections to a higher level.

According to her, internationally fixed procedural guarantees are provided and implemented in Armenia. The candidate spoke about the work aimed at improving electoral processes, the implementation of legislative changes from election to election, the need for additional steps aimed at raising public awareness.