Press Release
May 11, 2009

AUTOMATED ELECTIONS: VITAL STEP TOWARDS ENSURING CREDIBLE TRANSITION OF POWER - ANGARA

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara today said that we need to ensure a credible transition of power by having a clean, honest and orderly 2010 elections, this he said is possible through the COMELEC's poll automation efforts.

"Like India, the Philippines is headed for a transition of power by next year's general elections. The current economic slowdown demands that our national elections be credible and accurate, and express the will of the people. Any doubt with its results could stir political instability and lead our country to a downward spiral of political uncertainty and economic mess. At a time of increased unemployment and poverty, we need a new leadership with a strong mandate, one which emanates from the confidence and goodwill of our people. This can only come from clean, fair and credible elections," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

India ranked as the most vulnerable to political instability and unrest, according to a study of 16 countries conducted by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) last year. It took into account internal factors, such as the uncertainty over the outcome of India's general elections this May, as well as rising violence. The study notes that while the global financial crisis has not caused these problems, and these countries' economies are not as susceptible to it, the economic downturn could certainly exacerbate the problem.

He added, "Setting up the country's automated electoral system is a crucial step toward clean and honest elections. While it will not be a cure-all for the country's electoral problems, automating the polls will eliminate a lot of the human intervention that has made vote-rigging possible."

Angara, who led Senate deliberations on Commission on Election's (Comelec) P11-billion supplemental budget for poll automation, said that he is optimistic that an automated electoral system will facilitate fair and honest elections, provide a new set of government leaders with an unquestionable authority, and unite the country in facing the challenges ahead of us.

Aside from its detrimental impact on domestic economies, the global financial crisis threatens the stability of governments, especially those in developing countries. According to US Intelligence chief Dennis Blair, a year or two in recession could "loosen the fragile hold that many developing countries have on law and order."

As UN Chief Ban Ki Moon said late last year, the economic crisis could lead to a human crisis of increased poverty and social unrest.

Angara also cited that some governments in Eastern Europe are gripped by political turmoil triggered by economic crises. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, and is currently in a power struggle with their president, Viktor Yuschinko. In Georgia, the flight of many foreign investors and the high unemployment rate--8.6 percent, the highest in the Caucasus--are among the economic woes that opposition parties blame on President Mikhail Saakashvili, who faces calls for his resignation. In January, Latvia experienced its worst outbreak of violence since August 1991, with 10,000 people protesting various political and economic complaints.

"Having an automated 2010 elections is a vital step towards ensuring a credible transition of power which plays an important role in our nation's bid to hurdle this Global Financial Crisis," added Angara.

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