CHANGES AND AMMENDEMENTS TO THE ELECTION CODE BEING DISCUSSED
Support A1+!The issue on making changes and ammendements to the Election Code is being under disccussion in the National Assmebly. The bill is of a great interest for the political powers, especially if the fact of the forthcoming presidential, parliamentary and local self-governmental elections is taken into account.
About 10 deputies initiated the discussion being led by Galust Sahakyan, i.e. the leader of the "Unity" union which makes the parliamentary majority. The main suggested change relates to forming of Electoral Commission. "The Central Electoral Commission is formed by members appointed by fractions in National Assembly, acting or dissolved, one member from each fraction, and by the members appointed by the President of the Republic, the number of which is by one less than those appointed by the National Assembly, be it acting or dissolved", says the bill.
Deputies, involved in opposition, consider this unacceptable since it appears that the majority of the Electoral Commission will present authorities. "It's a try to grant boorisjness with a legal force", states deputy Aghasy Arshakyan. He's sure that the Electoral Code is being changed to hide away falsifications in the course of elections.
Electoral Commissions are to manage elections, but not to falsify them, states the leader of "Dashnaktsutyun" fraction Aghvan Vardanyan. New-fledged republican Filaret Berikyan considers the best way to entrust organizing of elections to government in order to have later a certain structure to held responsible for falsifications.
The parliamentary majority suggests to liquidate regional electoral commissions making up commissions for electoral districts instead.
About 40 deputies elected through majoritarian system suggests to change the correlation of majoritaryan and proportional electoral districts, making it 66 to 65 instead of 37/94 correspondingly.
The discussion is under way, the issue will be voted today with first reading.
