"ELECTORAL CODE IS A SUBJECT FOR SALE AND PURCHASE"

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[07:14 pm] 30 October, 2006

"Before the discussion of the amendments to the Electoral Code the NA
political powers had agreed not to refer to the formation of electoral
committees and the ratio between proportional and majority systems",
said member of the Republican Party Samvel Nikoyan in "Mirror"
club. He blamed the opposition for not keeping their promise.

During the first reading of the amendments "Justice" bloc voted
against it, and "National Unity" did not vote at all.

"We could not vote against it as 80% of our offers had been adopted;
we could not vote for it either as all our offers can be put into
execution only in case of 100% proportional system", said deputy head
of National Unity Alexan Karapetyan. Samvel Nikoyan announced that
the disagreements about proportional and majority systems would not
be so acute if it weren’t for the journalists, "No one treats the
issue as seriously as the journalists", he said.

Alexan Karapetyan tried to defend the journalists, "If they read the
Electoral Code once, everyone will see that electoral fabrications
cannot be eradicated without 100% proportional system". According to
him, the authorities do not treat the Electoral Code seriously. "Why
did the NA majority make a deal with the "People’s Deputy"? Violating
the Electoral Code, they gave one place in each electoral committee to
"People’s Deputy"; but "People’s Deputy" is not a political power and
90% of the faction has left it for the Republican party. That is to
say, the members of the Republican party had one more place in each
electoral committee. The authorities have made the Electoral Code a
subject for sale and purchase", Alexan Karapetyan commented.

Republican Samvel Nikoyan was very much offended by this remark and
he decided to reveal the potential of the Republicans, "We do not
make deals with anyone.

The Republican party has so much potential it can make its decisions
public and put them into execution alone". Mr. Nikoyan did not
hide that he is not glad about the involvement of judges into the
electoral process. "We have not referred to the issue as it is up
to the Constitutional Court to decide whether the involvement of the
judges into the electoral process contradicts the Constitution or not".

Let us remind you that the Constitutional Court will discuss the
issue on November 7; it will be represented by deputy head of NGO
"Democracy" Hrayr Tovmasyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress