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'PROMISE OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IS A LIE,' SAYS ARF'S HOVANNESIAN
asbarez
Monday, February 13th, 2012
ARF bloc president Vahan Hovannesian
YEREVAN (ARF Press Service)-Rampant and blatant voting discrepancies
in Armenia's parliament prompted Armenian Revolutionary Federation
bloc president Vahan Hovannesian to call the ruling party's promise
of democratic elections a "lie."
During legislative voting on Wednesday and Thursday, especially on
the crucial vote to approve legislation on Armenia's Law on Emergency
Rule, parliament members from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
voted for other deputies who were absent from the session.
An angry Hovannesian said lawmakers voting for others was not a first,
saying that irregularities were rampant in the country's legislature.
"This means that the ruling political power is really not a power,
but a power forced by strength - it is able neither to convince nor
to place its words as truth. It is even unable to organize its own
faction's voting," said Hovanessian.
"Having the absolute majority, the Republican Party of Armenia
is unable to pass a law. This isn't a new phenomenon, but perhaps
could overcome its own feebleness. Pressing a button for someone
else describes not only the button-pushers, but also their faction -
this speaks of the entire political system," stressed Hovanessian.
"If you have disregard for and can bypass the law in order to
achieve your goals, then why should I believe that you, despite all
your promises, will hold democratic elections in Armenia?" asked
Hovannesian.
The Heritage party also strongly condemned deputies from the ruling
for voting in the place of their absent to colleagues to push about
a dozen government bills through parliament this week.
In a statement, Heritage described the practice as an "outright
falsification" that testifies to an "unprecedented level of political
corruption" in Armenia.
Larisa Alaverdian, a Heritage bloc member, accused the parliament
leadership of deliberately turning a blind eye to the irregularities
and called President Serzh Sarkisian, who is the leader of the
Republican Party to react to this situation.
Government Rejects ARF and Heritage Proposition Also last week, the
government rejected a proposal put forth by the ARF and the Heritage
party calling for parliamentary elections to be held entirely on a
proportional electoral system abolishing the single-seat mandate.
First Deputy Justice Minister Gourgen Mouradyan commented on the
opposition's proposal saying changing the voting system would require
lengthy discussion. He also added that the single-seat mandate allows
the voter an alternative to voting for political parties.
Hovannesian summed up the rejection by saying that if the government
reject the opposition proposal because in the event of the reform,
the government would lose all power.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
asbarez
Monday, February 13th, 2012
ARF bloc president Vahan Hovannesian
YEREVAN (ARF Press Service)-Rampant and blatant voting discrepancies
in Armenia's parliament prompted Armenian Revolutionary Federation
bloc president Vahan Hovannesian to call the ruling party's promise
of democratic elections a "lie."
During legislative voting on Wednesday and Thursday, especially on
the crucial vote to approve legislation on Armenia's Law on Emergency
Rule, parliament members from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
voted for other deputies who were absent from the session.
An angry Hovannesian said lawmakers voting for others was not a first,
saying that irregularities were rampant in the country's legislature.
"This means that the ruling political power is really not a power,
but a power forced by strength - it is able neither to convince nor
to place its words as truth. It is even unable to organize its own
faction's voting," said Hovanessian.
"Having the absolute majority, the Republican Party of Armenia
is unable to pass a law. This isn't a new phenomenon, but perhaps
could overcome its own feebleness. Pressing a button for someone
else describes not only the button-pushers, but also their faction -
this speaks of the entire political system," stressed Hovanessian.
"If you have disregard for and can bypass the law in order to
achieve your goals, then why should I believe that you, despite all
your promises, will hold democratic elections in Armenia?" asked
Hovannesian.
The Heritage party also strongly condemned deputies from the ruling
for voting in the place of their absent to colleagues to push about
a dozen government bills through parliament this week.
In a statement, Heritage described the practice as an "outright
falsification" that testifies to an "unprecedented level of political
corruption" in Armenia.
Larisa Alaverdian, a Heritage bloc member, accused the parliament
leadership of deliberately turning a blind eye to the irregularities
and called President Serzh Sarkisian, who is the leader of the
Republican Party to react to this situation.
Government Rejects ARF and Heritage Proposition Also last week, the
government rejected a proposal put forth by the ARF and the Heritage
party calling for parliamentary elections to be held entirely on a
proportional electoral system abolishing the single-seat mandate.
First Deputy Justice Minister Gourgen Mouradyan commented on the
opposition's proposal saying changing the voting system would require
lengthy discussion. He also added that the single-seat mandate allows
the voter an alternative to voting for political parties.
Hovannesian summed up the rejection by saying that if the government
reject the opposition proposal because in the event of the reform,
the government would lose all power.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress