NATIONAL UNITY COULD NOT VOTE FOR OR AGAINST ELECTORAL CODE’S AMENDED VARIANT, FACTION SECRETARY SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. 90% of proposals of the National
Unity and Ardarutiun (Justice) factions was included in the new draft
Electoral Code, as a result of which the code was considerably improved
and voting against would be wrong from moral point of view. Alexan
Karapetian, Secretary of RA NA National Unity faction, reported this
at the October 30 dispute at the Hayeli Mirror club, explaining the
faction’s decision not to take part in voting of draft of amendments
and additions to the Electoral Code. In his words, the National
Unity could not, either vote for the draft as it did not include the
opposition’s proposal of passing to 100% proportional electoral system.

A.Karapetian gave assurance that only 100% proportional electoral
system can result in liquidation of many electoral violations that
are mainly committed by candidates nominated by the majoritarian
system. Samvel Nikoyan, RPA faction member, expressed bewilderment
in connection with the fact that issues not included in the draft are
discussed in connection with the amendments to the Electoral Code. In
his words, as early as a year ago when political forces represented
at NA started to work out amendments to the Electoral Code, an
agreement was reached not to touch upon proportional-majoritarian
electoral systems and formation of electoral commissions, as it
was clear from the very start that approaches towards these issues
will differ. Besides, in 2005 NA had already made amendment to the
Electoral Code, according to which correlation of MPs elected by
majoritarian and proportional systems from 56/75 became 41/90. In
response, A.Karapetian said that this was not a political agreement,
but a bargain, as a result of which the People’s Deputy group that
does not represent a political force received one seat at electoral
commissions. In the MP’s words, the fact that the Business MP group
has no such right is evidence of a double approach.