Centre for Monitoring Democratic Processes «Quorum»

On March, 1st, 2009 in Uniform day of voting have passed elections of deputies of the Arkhangelsk regional meeting of the fifth convocation. The area parliament is formed of 62 deputies - 31 from them is selected on proportional system from political parties and their regional branches, and 31 - on one-mandatory election districts.

On elections there were the foreign observers invited by the Centre for Monitoring Democratic Processes "Quorum":

• Mateusz Piskorski, the ex-deputy of the Polish Sejm of 5th convocation, the doctor of political sciences, the president of the European Center of the geopolitical analysis
• Leszek Miller, the former prime minister of Republic Poland, the publicist, the journalist

In day of voting observers have visited polling districts, have met voters and observers from political parties and have stated an estimation to level of readiness of elections in the Arkhangelsk region.

The Russian election system has seemed interesting to Mateusz Piskorski. He has noticed that «each country should solve independently, what system for it is better. There are no universal projects, because at each country the geographical, historical and mental features». But, according to the visitor, a problem at all systems one – to provide to voters the right of a free choice and to create the efficient government.

At the same time, he has noticed that process of consolidation occurring in our country and strengthenings of party system coincides with the all-European trend: «Four parties participate in elections of all levels, it means that they have finished институализацию. But in many countries of Eastern Europe such while is not present».
Especially Mateusz Piskorski has noted quality of work of election committees. As he said, in the Arkhangelsk region an appearance on regional elections above, than on similar elections in Poland or Spain. «I think, first it is connected by that at you elections — almost state holiday, and secondly, election committees have prepared very good propaganda materials directed on increase of an appearance!» — has told Piskorski.

«We have got used that in all Europe elections - every day action, and in Arkhangelsk on elections reigns celebratory atmosphere. And it very much pleases», - he has told. In spite of the fact that on 10:00 mornings on March, 1st the appearance of voters has made 4,4 %, Piskorsky notices that it was not the bad result, as in Europe it approximately in 2 times more low. According to the foreign observer, it is result of good election campaign, presence of a considerable quantity of advertising and the information on elections. On the other hand, it has expressed doubt that column cancellation «Against all» will positively be reflected in an appearance.

So, he has noted availability of elections as for journalists and political parties, and for all comers.

As a whole, Uniform day of voting has passed according to the international norms. The international experts have highly appreciated quality of the spent elections and have concluded that elections pass in Russia quite freely and democratically.

«Elections in Russia have been organised at high level. All was as it should be. Voting has passed similarly to how it occurs in the countries of Europe», — Leshek Miller considers, - «the Facts of infringement of the Russian selective legislation were not».

Regional elections as a whole have passed on March, 1st according to requirements of norms of the Russian legislation and the international standards. About it it is told in the report presented at press conference of association on protection of suffrages «Civic control» and the Centre for Monitoring Democratic Processes "Quorum".

«All was as it should be, infringements of selective laws were not», - the former prime minister of Poland Leszek Miller who was present on elections at the Arkhangelsk region has told at press conference. Nevertheless during elections in some regions of the country a number of infringements which yet do not allow to name selective process in Russia ideal has been revealed. Them concern propaganda in day of voting, illegal actions with открепительными certificates and others.

Also in an election day in Arkhangelsk has passed a round table on a theme «Public institutes in selective process» in which foreign experts of Mateusz Piskorski and Leszek Miller took part. Participants of a round table have come to a conclusion that the ideal selective legislation does not exist.
Participants have discussed, whether column cancellation «Against all» on regional elections and as it influences an appearance of voters is expedient, whether the present system of voting and what role of mass-media is ideal at election campaign carrying out.

The assistant to the head of administration of the Arkhangelsk region Alexander Topchy, the chairman of regional election committee Alexander Jashkov, member of the Central election committee have taken part in discussion Vasily Volkov, representatives of the regional power, scientific, teachers of high schools, heads of public organisations and workers of mass media. The Pole, director NGO "The European centre of the geopolitical analysis" Mateusz Piskorski became the guest of honour.

The special attention behind a round table was given to quality of the regional and federal laws, suffrages of citizens concerning to a guarantee. Professor АГТУ Alexander Malyj in the performance has noticed that it is impossible to create the ideal selective law. It should be not too difficult for understanding, differently by preparation of members of election committees there are problems. It should provide the right of a free choice to all citizens. And an ultimate goal - creation of efficient authority which really would represent interests of voters. The member of the central election committee Vasily Volkov has agreed with acting and has told about idea of creation in Russia the selective code for improvement of the selective legislation.

Speech has come and about preparation of members of local election committees. In elections of federal scale, for example, them works more than one million. How to learn such "army" to rules of carrying out of voting and what literature to provide to participants of a round table has told Vasily Volkov. The visitor from Poland has shared the impressions concerning elections in the Arkhangelsk region. And the editor of the regional political newspaper «Northern member of the Komsomol» Svetlana Lojchenko has sounded the reasons concerning participation in journalism elections as one of social institutes and «the fourth power». It has separately stopped on a question of differentiation of concepts "information" and "propaganda". Svetlana Nikolaevna also has paid attention gathered that on the threshold of elections candidates in general are afraid that about them wrote or mentioned in mass-media. Even if their comment is necessary at illumination of the concrete event which in any way have been not connected with elections, candidates перенаправляют journalists to other people, adding: «God helps those who help. And suddenly it is provocation?».

As a whole participants of a round table have enriched the knowledge of an elective situation as in Russia, and abroad and have come to a conclusion that there is no ideal selective legislation. But there are uniform all-democratic principles which it is necessary to adhere at carrying out of fair, open elections.