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Shavarsh Kocharian: Improving Electoral Code Is Necessary, But Not S

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  • Shavarsh Kocharian: Improving Electoral Code Is Necessary, But Not S

    SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN: IMPROVING ELECTORAL CODE IS NECESSARY, BUT NOT SUFFICIENT CONDITION FOR HOLDING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

    Noyan Tapan
    Oct 31 2006

    YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The promises of the authorities
    about holding free and fair elections and the process of the Electoral
    Code's amending contradict to each other. RA MP Shavarsh Kocharian,
    Chairman of the National Democratic Party, declared this on October
    31 at the Pastark club. In his words, the content of the Electoral
    Code's amendments expresses the real intention of the authorities. In
    the MP's words, the newly independent countries that really strive
    for democratization use exclusively the model of elections by the
    proportional electoral system and those going towards authoritarianism
    the majoritarian one. As an example of the last one he mentioned the
    last parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan held by 100% majoritarian
    electoral system.

    Attaching importance to introduction of 100% proportional electoral
    system in Armenia, Sh.Kocharian said that such elections should
    be held by the rating principle, that is the place taken by a
    candidate on the party electoral roll should be decided by an
    elector. Sh.Kocharian also attached importance to use of principle
    of balance in the process of formation of electoral commissions,
    according to which pro-governmental and opposition political forces
    should be equally represented in the commissions. The MP also
    said that if in early November RA Constitutional Court sustains the
    opposition's lawsuit, according to which judges' inclusion in electoral
    commissions is anti-constitutional, NA will have to touch upon the
    issue of commissions' formation. NDP Chairman also touched upon the
    amendments to the Electoral Code, which create "holes" for electoral
    violations. In his words, it would be a good idea to put voting-papers
    into envelopes, if the law excluded the possibility of marking them. In
    Sh.Kocharian's opinion, for insuring against violations printing and
    delivery of voting-papers should be controlled by one body. Besides,
    the law should exclude the possibility of nomination of one candidate
    at an electoral district. The MP said that the Venice Commission also
    expressed the same opinion about the last two points. Sh.Kocharian
    gave assurance that improving the Electoral Code is a necessary, but
    not sufficient condition for holding free and fair elections. In his
    words, even if the parliament rejects the amendments proposed to the
    Electoral Code and the acting variant of the law remains in force,
    holding of free and fair elections is possible in this case, too,
    if the authorities indeed have such an intention.
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