Although the discussions (if, of course, we can call them discussions) of the RA Electoral Code amendments are already over in the National Assembly, the debates on the amendments are still going on and perhaps will go on for a while.
At the “Hayeli” club, member of the RPA board, Samvel Nikoyan and deputy-chairman of the National Unity party, NA Deputy, Alexan Karapetyan were debating over the amendments of the Electoral Code. The debate on October 30 began with humor because the speakers were telling each other to start speaking, during which Nikoyan mentioned that they will “recede everything except for power” and Karapetyan added “as well as money”. After the mentioned preamble Karapetyan announced that it would be better to apply the 100% proportional system of elections, which Armenia has been ready for over the past 15 years. According to Nikoyan’s viewpoint not only is Armenia ready to accept the 100% proportional system, but also there is political consensus to have 90 proportional and 41 majority balance. The opinions of the guests varied regarding the formation of electoral commissions. Karapetyan thinks it’s wrong to give any seats to the NA People’s Deputy Group and asks why other factions, like the “Businessman” faction, worse than the People’s Deputy Group. Karapetyan insisted that most part of the People’s Deputy Group Deputies have become RPA members and it turns out that they have two seats in the commissions. The NA RPA Deputy mentioned that prior to the development of the amendments of the RA Electoral Code the RPA has adopted the following principle, which according to him has been agreed with other political parties and opposition as well, that is – “not to make the election system 100% proportional as well as not to alter the formation of electoral commissions”. The reason is that there are many contradicting opinions and it’s hard to come to terms. Therefore it was offered to keep the status quo of formation of commissions, as well as the election system overall. It was also agreed to amend whatever can be amended through mutual consent. As a result the opposition and the government have made an agreement on a few issues. Shortly said, they have adopted the stage by stage version of solving the problems. It’s interesting to know why the Republicans resist accepting the same stage by stage version of the Karabagh conflict resolution proposed by Armenia’s first President – that is to maintain the status quo on disputable issues. Regarding the formation of Election Commissions, in particular the recommendation to balance the seats of the opposition and government representatives in the PECs, Nikoyan mentioned that it’s hard to tell who the opposition is and who’s the government before the elections. That’s why it’s unacceptable to give equal seats to opposition and the government for the time being. What is the reason for the attitude of the opposition, which initially signed under the amendments of the RA Electoral Code draft and then some time later, changed its mind and cancelled? Karapetyan’s response to the mentioned questions were put the following way – “since the draft was supposed to be sent to Venice and since many of the recommendations of the opposition members have been taken into account, they have signed it. However, since the opposition’s recommendations on the proportional and majority system and the formation of electoral commissions have not been considered, their signatures were taken away.” However, even after the response it was unclear what the main reasons were for the opposition’s refusal. Nevertheless the speakers also spoke about the vegetable/agriculture course existing in politics – that is the distribution of potatoes and wheat to people and some other similar “acts”. Karapetyan is against such a policy because he thinks that by this the provisions of the Electoral Code and the Law on Parties are violated and furthermore “nobody guarantees that the same won’t be repeated during elections”. The oppositional deputy also added that such actions are supported by the Armenian President. “No one is able to violate laws and be unpunished unless you have the President’s support,” he said. And Nikoyan, who at that moment didn’t have the necessary legislative codes at hand, wasn’t able to prove the opposite and stayed silent. However, Nikoyan analyzed the mentioned issue morally and mentioned that he doesn’t like such charities either; he’s afraid that the political and the ideological competition will move to the agricultural sector during elections.