«QUALITY» OF THOSE ELECTED IS ON VOTERS' CONSCIENCE

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Neither the Guide for Elections and Electoral Structures nor the Behavior Code of the Venice Commission or documents fixing the commitments of the OSCE members determine that, for example, the educational qualification is essential for deputy or presidential nominees. In the opinion of Central Election Committee Chairman Garegin Azaryan, «good quality» cannot be secured by applying different types of limitations. The body elected is the mirror of the society», he says.

Representatives of some political forces state that only people with juridical or economic education can be elected to the National Assemble. In response Garegin Azaryan notes that the voters but not the political forces decide who will become a deputy.

But sometimes the voter can be mistaken. The CEC chairman offers to correct such a mistake by not voting for this candidate at the next elections. However this mistake can be corrected in several years. Mr. Azaryan noted that the elections to the local self-government bodies take place every 3 years, to the NA – every 4 years and presidential election is held every 5 years, thus the voter has the possibility to vote every year.

Another reality is that after being elected some deputies do not attend the parliament sittings explaining it by poor health. “If the law provides for health qualification it will be applied in the electoral system”, the CEC chairman says.

Being an opponent to the applying of the educational qualification Mr. Azaryan nevertheless supports some amendments to the Election Code. «I should confess it would be advisable to check the knowledge of the Armenian language of those who become members of the election commissions», Garegin Azaryan resumed.

Lena Badeyan