Media and Elections

Armenia

ME037

Criteria for allocating free broadcast time

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	a. Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Comments:	Candidates for the President of the Republic, as well as political parties and political party alliances participating in elections shall have the right to use air time of the Public Radio and Public Television (including by live transmission) on equal grounds, free of charge, and for pay.
Source:	Electoral Code of 26 May 2011, art. 19 (1): http://res.elections.am/images/doc/_ecode.pdf (2013).
Verified:	2015/12/01

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ME059

Television debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:	During the pre-electoral period for the presidential elections in 2013, no debates were organized between candidates. During the campaign period for the parliamentary elections of 2012, two private TV channels organized TV debates, but in 7 cases one or more invitees did not attend the scheduled debates. No debates among prominent candidates or party leaders were organized. Despite efforts of some media outlets, during the presidential election of 2008, no candidate debates took place, ostensibly due to a lack of interest by candidates. With the start of the official campaign period of the parliamentary elections in 2007, there was a noticeable increase of media attention to campaign events and of visibility of election contestants. Several pre-election debates were organized at national level. During parliamentary elections held in 2003, public TV and many local private broadcasters organized numerous debates between candidates and offered various formats of discussion and analytical programmes on election issues.
Source:	Election Observation Mission Preliminary Statement on the Presidential Election in the Republic of Armenia (OSCE/ODIHR, 2013): http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/99675; Election Observation Mission Final Report on the Parliamentary Election in the Republic of Armenia (OSCE/ODIHR, 2012): http://www.osce.org/odihr/91643; Election Observation Mission Final Report on the Presidential Election in the Republic of Armenia (OSCE/ODIHR, 2008): http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/armenia/32115; Election Observation Mission Final Report on Parliamentary Elections in the Republic of Armenia (OSCE/ODIHR, 2007): http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/armenia/26606; Election Observation Mission Final Report on Parliamentary Elections in the Republic of Armenia (OSCE/ODIHR, 2003): http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/armenia/42371.
Verified:	2015/12/01

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ME062

Blackout period for release of opinion poll results.

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	a. 1 day
Comments:	Radio or television companies performing terrestrial broadcasting shall be prohibited to publish, at any time prior to 20:00 hours of the voting day, findings of any opinion polls of voters as to whom they have voted for.
Source:	Electoral Code of 26 May 2011, art. 21 (3): http://res.elections.am/images/doc/_ecode.pdf (2013).
Verified:	2015/12/01

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ME080

Question:	Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	During the election campaign, a candidate for deputy shall have the right to spend an amount not exceeding 10 000-fold of the minimum salary, and a political party, an alliance of political parties–– an amount not exceeding 100000-fold of the minimum salary – for conducting the election campaign, renting halls, premises, preparing (posting) campaign posters, acquiring print and other campaign materials, preparing all types of campaign materials (including print materials) to be provided to electors.
Source:	Electoral Code of 26 May 2011, art. 122 (4): http://res.elections.am/images/doc/_ecode.pdf (2013).
Verified:	2015/12/01

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