ARMENIAN POLITICIAN UNHAPPY ABOUT LAW ON MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Aravot
March 27 2009
Armenia
Former candidate in the 2008 Armenian presidential election Arman
Melikyan has criticized the law on the election of Yerevan mayor.
In his view, the current procedure of electing a mayor of Yerevan
"violates the constitutional rights of non-partisan candidates to be
elected a mayor", the report said.
Following the changes to the Armenian constitution, a Yerevan mayor
is not elected directly but by 65-member of the city council who are
elected under proportional party lists.
The municipal election will be held on 31 May and seven political
forces, including the opposition Armenian National Congress, will
contest it.
Melikyan believes the mayoral election is "politicized" as a result
of "the 19 February 2008 rigged presidential election" and under the
existing law, Aravot daily said in a separate report on 27 March.
He also added that the forthcoming 31 May municipal election in
Yerevan is very "controversial" as no preconditions have been created
to consider it "trustworthy, reliable and mutually acceptable",
the report said.
Melikyan told the paper that there is little possibility that the
authorities and the opposition have made a "deal" due to recent
appointment of Gagik Beglaryan as Yerevan mayor and changes to Articles
225 and 300 of the Criminal Code. The Armenian parliament has recently
amended these articles which will allow to change charges against
the seven opposition activists on trial for their alleged roles in
1 March 2008 post-election riots.
Melikyan told the paper that he does not rule out the possibility of
"new clashes" as a result of the forthcoming municipal election in
Yerevan, Aravot reported.