OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission releases first interim report

The presidential election in Armenia will be held on February 18, 2013, in accordance with provisions of the Constitution. If none of the candidates receives an absolute majority of the votes, then two weeks later a run-off will be held between the top two candidates, is said in the first interim report of the OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission.

Eight candidates have been registered. Six other candidates did not pay the required election pledge, and yet another candidate withdrew his candidacy prior to the registration deadline.

The upcoming presidential election is the first one to be held under the new Electoral Code adopted in May 2011.
The new Electoral Code has been assessed as a comprehensive one that provides a firm basis for holding democratic elections. St the same time some sections of the Code are in need of improvement.

The election will be held by the Central Election Commission (CEC), 41 District Election Commissions (DEC), and 1,988 Precinct Election Commissions (PEC).

CEC is actively preparing for the election; no law-prescribed deadline has been so far missed.