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STYOPA SAFARYAN'S LETTER TO AXEL FISCHER AND JOHN PRESCOTT
hetq
14:39, January 16, 2012
To Mr. Axel Fischer (Germany, EPP/CD)
Mr. John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC),
Co-rapporteurs for Armenia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE),
EU Ambassadors in Armenia
Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen,
Parliamentary elections slated for May 2012 will not only be a next
democratic test for Armenia, but also a demonstration of political
will and commitment to democratic perspective for the country.
In the course of two decades of Armenia's independence, electoral
processes have never been accepted with deep satisfaction either by
Armenia's society or international community. They have never been
assessed as "fully complying with international standards," and in
domestic political life often ended with bloody tragedies as was the
case with the 2008 presidential elections.
On the one hand, as asserted by numerous distinguished international
organizations, politics and business are coalesced in Armenia, on
the other hand, in political system a "winner takes it all" attitude
stated in the provision 6.1 of PACE Resolution 1609 (2008) on "The
Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Armenia"-these circumstances
not only turned political life and elections into competition between
criminal oligarchic groups, but also as "winners in the competition"
they "take all" starting from national wealth up to the "endowment"
of national and constitutional rights to their holders. In such
a system political actors are impelled to play a backstage role,
many of whom-either forced or on voluntary basis-at best serve as a
facade for "democratic" fraud by criminal oligarchic groups.
Current trends of the political system and in this regard the
corruption of electoral processes are more promoted and strengthened
due to the availability of the majoritarian component in the
mixed electoral system of Armenia. The overwhelming majority of 41
single-seat constituencies with minor exceptions make fertile ground
for the representatives of groups of various calibers to enter the
Parliament and to predetermine the apolitical nature of the latter.
Those who appeared in the Parliament via the majoritarian system
were and are the candidates of incumbent political authorities. The
status quo is established between them through the following scheme:
through the single-seat holders the ruling forces form a majority
in the Parliament, while the deputies in return for their mandates
ascertain their loyalty through not laying obstacles in the way of
the policy carried out by the regime.
It is this electoral system that deepens the vicious practice of
vote buying, giving sense to unprecedented auction among apolitical
oligarchic groups for the voter's support, where political programs and
political activities are absent, and political parties and candidates
are not competitive.
Ladies and Gentlemen, On December 27, 2011, the Heritage and Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF), parliamentary opposition parties,
issued a joint proposal to ensure the abolition of majoritarian
electoral system and transition to a 100 percent proportional one. Our
move was hailed by approximately a dozen of extra-parliamentary
political forces such as Armenian National Congress (ANC), "Free
Democrats" party, "Turning Point" party, People's Party (PP),
Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party (ADL), National Democratic Party
(NDP), Socialist Labor Party of Armenia (SLPA), United Labour Party
(ULP), Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA), as well as numerous civic
groups and scholars.
The Heritage and ARF first put into circulation a package of ten
proposals for the provisions subject to change, including one on
proportional system already on August 4, 2010, ahead of launch of
constitutional amendments to the Electoral Code. The package was
sent to the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice
Commission) for an expert opinion.
According to the latter, the political decision on the adoption of
any kind of electoral system is up to the political forces of Armenia.
Unfortunately, these and other proposals made by two opposition
factions were not included in the Electoral Code adopted on May
26, 2011. Meanwhile, our consistent aim to have 2012 parliamentary
elections got rid of the above-mentioned vices, deeply rooted in
practice, forced the parliamentary opposition to reassert that
proposal.
To note, according to the paragraph 6 of Resolution 1837 "The
functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia" as of 2011 adopted
by PACE, the forthcoming parliamentary elections are considered to
be crucial for the democratic development of Armenia. "Democratic
elections which result in a parliament that reflects all the
relevant political forces in the Armenian society will consolidate
the normalisation of the political environment and ensure the trust
of the Armenian public in the political institutions of their country."
The implementation of the international and domestic commitment
undertaken by Armenia seems currently feasible through ruling out
criminal oligarchic groups from the political arena and shifting
competition to a 100 percent proportional system. For the purposes
to bring this legislative initiative into life there is no need
for constitutional amendments as it is often misrepresented, and we
have enough time. The ball is in the ruling regime court to exert
political will for the execution of the proposal largely supported
by the opposition.
In his New Year's address to the nation, President Serzh Sargsyan
reflected on the upcoming elections. "As you know, next year is also
a year of the elections to the National Assembly. On many instances,
elections have been perceived, and I underline that it's about
perception of some, only as an opportunity to grip or retain power.
It's high time to realize that there are much more eminent goals. I
have made my personal decision long ago - to do my best to get rid
of those flawed stereotypes, to enroot principles of truly national
and truly state approaches in the political life. I make no secret
that to do that I have needed help and I still need help." If the
President is committed to normalizing the political environment and
realizing systemic changes, the best indicator of the latter will
be the adoption of political decision on the abolishment of the
majoritarian electoral system.
In this regard, PACE adopted Resolution 1837 as of 2011, the 6.2
provision of which considers that "the new Electoral Code forms an
adequate basis for the conduct of democratic elections, if implemented
in good faith, but urges the authorities to address all recommendations
and shortcomings that may be contained in the forthcoming opinion of
the Venice Commission on the code as adopted".
The above-mentioned joint final opinion "On the Electoral Code of
Armenia," adopted on 26 May, 2011, by Venice Commission and OSCE
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR),
states that "the Electoral Code would benefit from further improvement
in order to ensure full compliance with OSCE commitments, Council of
Europe and other international standards for the conduct of democratic
elections. Areas which could be addressed include: Removing excessive
restrictions on candidacy rights; Ensuring a separation of state and
party/candidate structures; Allocation of seats to marzes; Critically
assess the use of new voting technologies for out-of-country voters;
Improving provisions for the count and tabulation process, including
the determination of election results; and Improving complaint and
appeal procedures to better ensure an effective remedy".
Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR also expressed readiness to assist
national authorities in their efforts to improve the legal framework
for elections.
Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen, With this thorough analysis we appeal
to you to contribute to the process of amending the Electoral Code
and adopting the joint initiative by Heritage-ARF-a 100 percent
proportional electoral system-backed by more than a dozen political
forces.
Thank you in advance for cooperation.
Styopa (Stepan) Safaryan Head of the Heritage Parliamentary Faction
hetq
14:39, January 16, 2012
To Mr. Axel Fischer (Germany, EPP/CD)
Mr. John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC),
Co-rapporteurs for Armenia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE),
EU Ambassadors in Armenia
Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen,
Parliamentary elections slated for May 2012 will not only be a next
democratic test for Armenia, but also a demonstration of political
will and commitment to democratic perspective for the country.
In the course of two decades of Armenia's independence, electoral
processes have never been accepted with deep satisfaction either by
Armenia's society or international community. They have never been
assessed as "fully complying with international standards," and in
domestic political life often ended with bloody tragedies as was the
case with the 2008 presidential elections.
On the one hand, as asserted by numerous distinguished international
organizations, politics and business are coalesced in Armenia, on
the other hand, in political system a "winner takes it all" attitude
stated in the provision 6.1 of PACE Resolution 1609 (2008) on "The
Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Armenia"-these circumstances
not only turned political life and elections into competition between
criminal oligarchic groups, but also as "winners in the competition"
they "take all" starting from national wealth up to the "endowment"
of national and constitutional rights to their holders. In such
a system political actors are impelled to play a backstage role,
many of whom-either forced or on voluntary basis-at best serve as a
facade for "democratic" fraud by criminal oligarchic groups.
Current trends of the political system and in this regard the
corruption of electoral processes are more promoted and strengthened
due to the availability of the majoritarian component in the
mixed electoral system of Armenia. The overwhelming majority of 41
single-seat constituencies with minor exceptions make fertile ground
for the representatives of groups of various calibers to enter the
Parliament and to predetermine the apolitical nature of the latter.
Those who appeared in the Parliament via the majoritarian system
were and are the candidates of incumbent political authorities. The
status quo is established between them through the following scheme:
through the single-seat holders the ruling forces form a majority
in the Parliament, while the deputies in return for their mandates
ascertain their loyalty through not laying obstacles in the way of
the policy carried out by the regime.
It is this electoral system that deepens the vicious practice of
vote buying, giving sense to unprecedented auction among apolitical
oligarchic groups for the voter's support, where political programs and
political activities are absent, and political parties and candidates
are not competitive.
Ladies and Gentlemen, On December 27, 2011, the Heritage and Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF), parliamentary opposition parties,
issued a joint proposal to ensure the abolition of majoritarian
electoral system and transition to a 100 percent proportional one. Our
move was hailed by approximately a dozen of extra-parliamentary
political forces such as Armenian National Congress (ANC), "Free
Democrats" party, "Turning Point" party, People's Party (PP),
Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party (ADL), National Democratic Party
(NDP), Socialist Labor Party of Armenia (SLPA), United Labour Party
(ULP), Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA), as well as numerous civic
groups and scholars.
The Heritage and ARF first put into circulation a package of ten
proposals for the provisions subject to change, including one on
proportional system already on August 4, 2010, ahead of launch of
constitutional amendments to the Electoral Code. The package was
sent to the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice
Commission) for an expert opinion.
According to the latter, the political decision on the adoption of
any kind of electoral system is up to the political forces of Armenia.
Unfortunately, these and other proposals made by two opposition
factions were not included in the Electoral Code adopted on May
26, 2011. Meanwhile, our consistent aim to have 2012 parliamentary
elections got rid of the above-mentioned vices, deeply rooted in
practice, forced the parliamentary opposition to reassert that
proposal.
To note, according to the paragraph 6 of Resolution 1837 "The
functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia" as of 2011 adopted
by PACE, the forthcoming parliamentary elections are considered to
be crucial for the democratic development of Armenia. "Democratic
elections which result in a parliament that reflects all the
relevant political forces in the Armenian society will consolidate
the normalisation of the political environment and ensure the trust
of the Armenian public in the political institutions of their country."
The implementation of the international and domestic commitment
undertaken by Armenia seems currently feasible through ruling out
criminal oligarchic groups from the political arena and shifting
competition to a 100 percent proportional system. For the purposes
to bring this legislative initiative into life there is no need
for constitutional amendments as it is often misrepresented, and we
have enough time. The ball is in the ruling regime court to exert
political will for the execution of the proposal largely supported
by the opposition.
In his New Year's address to the nation, President Serzh Sargsyan
reflected on the upcoming elections. "As you know, next year is also
a year of the elections to the National Assembly. On many instances,
elections have been perceived, and I underline that it's about
perception of some, only as an opportunity to grip or retain power.
It's high time to realize that there are much more eminent goals. I
have made my personal decision long ago - to do my best to get rid
of those flawed stereotypes, to enroot principles of truly national
and truly state approaches in the political life. I make no secret
that to do that I have needed help and I still need help." If the
President is committed to normalizing the political environment and
realizing systemic changes, the best indicator of the latter will
be the adoption of political decision on the abolishment of the
majoritarian electoral system.
In this regard, PACE adopted Resolution 1837 as of 2011, the 6.2
provision of which considers that "the new Electoral Code forms an
adequate basis for the conduct of democratic elections, if implemented
in good faith, but urges the authorities to address all recommendations
and shortcomings that may be contained in the forthcoming opinion of
the Venice Commission on the code as adopted".
The above-mentioned joint final opinion "On the Electoral Code of
Armenia," adopted on 26 May, 2011, by Venice Commission and OSCE
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR),
states that "the Electoral Code would benefit from further improvement
in order to ensure full compliance with OSCE commitments, Council of
Europe and other international standards for the conduct of democratic
elections. Areas which could be addressed include: Removing excessive
restrictions on candidacy rights; Ensuring a separation of state and
party/candidate structures; Allocation of seats to marzes; Critically
assess the use of new voting technologies for out-of-country voters;
Improving provisions for the count and tabulation process, including
the determination of election results; and Improving complaint and
appeal procedures to better ensure an effective remedy".
Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR also expressed readiness to assist
national authorities in their efforts to improve the legal framework
for elections.
Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen, With this thorough analysis we appeal
to you to contribute to the process of amending the Electoral Code
and adopting the joint initiative by Heritage-ARF-a 100 percent
proportional electoral system-backed by more than a dozen political
forces.
Thank you in advance for cooperation.
Styopa (Stepan) Safaryan Head of the Heritage Parliamentary Faction