Dallakian: Positive Conclusion of Venice Commission Inadmissible

VICTOR DALLAKIAN CONSIDERS INADMISSIBLE POSITIVE CONCLUSION OF VENICE
COMMISSION CONCERNING ELECTORAL REFORMS

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The positive conclusion of the Venice
Commission of the Council of Europe concerning amendments in the RA
Electoral Code is inadmissible. Victor Dallakian, the Secretary of the
NA “Ardarutiun” (“Justice”) faction expressed such a confidence at the
May 25 press-conference.

According to him, giving judges by one place in the electoral
commissions itself contradicts the RA Constitution as according to the
98th article of the Constitution, judges may be occupied by
scientific, pedagogical, and creative work besides their direct
activities. Dallakian also drew attention to the circumstance that
judges depends on the country’s authorities, and the Venice Commission
has for many times attached importance just to that circumstance. For
example, it was mentioned that the President of the republic will have
no right to appoint any member in the Justice Council. The Secretary
of the “Ardarutiun” faction also mentioned that there are 1865
electoral districts in the whole republic in which 70-80% of judges
will be included during the elections as a result of which the
judicial system will be paralyzed. “Our approach is that the
commissions must be formed from the NA factions,” Dallakian
emphasized. According to him, taking into account that the number of
parties must be more than 2 thousands according to the law “On
Parties,” they can support to holding of the elections. Dallakian
expressed confidence that in the electoral commissions to reserve one
place for the country’s President violates the whole logic of the
Electoral Code which is based on the principle of equality of
candidates. A place is given to the Court of Appeal members of which
are also appionted by the President, and according to the speaker,
will be appointed as members of a commission according to the
President’s will. A place is also given to the “People’s Deputy” group
which is not a political unit. According to Victor Dallakian,
responsibilities of authorized persons increased and it is a positive
phenomenon. But in parallel to it there are also theses causing
anxiety.

Particularly, the amended code gives opportunity to arrest an
authorized person under a pretence of disturbing the commission’s
activities, what, according to the speaker, is rather possible in the
conditions of Armenia.