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ARMENIA'S POLITICAL FORCES SEEK TO PREVENT 'VIOLENCE AGAINST POPULAR WILL'
Tert.am
20.01.12
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnakstutyun (ARF-D), in
cooperation with the Heritage party, held a congress at the Erebuni
Plaza hotel in Yerevan, Jan. 20.
The congress discussed a switch-over to the proportional representation
system in Armenia.
It was an impressive event: political forces holding diametrically
opposite political views - ARF-D, Armenian National Congress (ANC) and
Free Democrats - participated in the congress. Among the participants
were also the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), Democratic Party of
Armenia, Rule of Law party, National Accord, Motherland, United
Workers' Party and a number of others.
The political forces showed impressive solidarity, which proved their
ability to gather in a hall and even reach an agreement on one idea.
The ARF-D member Armen Rustamyan once again presented his arguments for
a switch-over to the proportional representation system. He proposed
a plebiscite - the amendments to Armenia's Law on Referendum envisage
such cases.
Naira Zohrabyan, a PAP member, seconded the idea. She believes it
will allow a "political parliament" to be formed. On the other hand,
she reminded the attendees that, according to the PAP program, the
party is for the proportional representation system.
An ex-journalist, Mrs Zohrabyan once held a poll only to find out
the people did not know single winners elected to Parliament.
As regards the remarks that the Council of Europe objects to the
proportional representation system in Armenia, Mrs Zohrabyan, who is
also a member of Armenia's delegation to the CE Parliamentary Assembly
(PACE), noted that the CE has no right to decide instead of Armenia,
but can only give the country advice.
Chairman of the ARF-D parliamentary group Vahan Hovhannisyan resonded
to his opponents' arguments that Russia regrets having switched over
to the proportional representation system and now wants to re-establish
the previous system.
According to Hovhannisyan, the argument does not sound convincing.
Russia is a great country, and the proportional representation system
is not effective there.
On the threshold of the congress, the ANC issued a statement on its
support to the congress and to any decision aimed at ensuring free
and fair elections.
ANC Coordinator Levon Zurabyan pointed out that the political forces
have one common task, namely, destroying the election rigging system;
otherwise, "the people's will is going to be violated once more."
The number of political forces participating in the discussions is
evidence of serious threat of election rigging, Zorabyan said.
He pointed out the problem of 500,000 "ghosts" - people who, though
outside Armenia, "miraculously" vote.
Hovhannes Margaryan of the Rule of Law party said that amendments
to Armenia's election law reduced the number of MPs elected from
single-mandate constituencies. The party is for further reduction
of this number. He believes a switch-over to the proportional
representation system requires certain work. He stated that the party
will join further discussions.
Gurgen Arsenyan, Chairman of the United Workers' Party is for the
proportional representation system. According to him, it will preclude
the reproduction of the ruling party. The authorities are using the
single-winner voting system as athletes use dopes, he said. Armenia's
people can act as an "anti-dope," he said.
Aram Harutyunyan, Chairman of the National Accord party, said that
the ruling party, RPA, must realize they may become opposition one
day. So they should ask for the proportional representation system
to remain in effect.
The RPA member Koryun Nahapetyan, the strongest opponent of switch-over
to the proportion representation system, does not understand the
reasons why different political forces have this issue high on their
political agenda now. The arguments that Armenia's Constitution
requires a complete switch-over to the proportional representation
system must be rejected, he said.
"We need political reforms," Nahapetyan said. He noted that a
system political forces reach an agreement on is the one that meets
international standards.
Tert.am
20.01.12
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnakstutyun (ARF-D), in
cooperation with the Heritage party, held a congress at the Erebuni
Plaza hotel in Yerevan, Jan. 20.
The congress discussed a switch-over to the proportional representation
system in Armenia.
It was an impressive event: political forces holding diametrically
opposite political views - ARF-D, Armenian National Congress (ANC) and
Free Democrats - participated in the congress. Among the participants
were also the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), Democratic Party of
Armenia, Rule of Law party, National Accord, Motherland, United
Workers' Party and a number of others.
The political forces showed impressive solidarity, which proved their
ability to gather in a hall and even reach an agreement on one idea.
The ARF-D member Armen Rustamyan once again presented his arguments for
a switch-over to the proportional representation system. He proposed
a plebiscite - the amendments to Armenia's Law on Referendum envisage
such cases.
Naira Zohrabyan, a PAP member, seconded the idea. She believes it
will allow a "political parliament" to be formed. On the other hand,
she reminded the attendees that, according to the PAP program, the
party is for the proportional representation system.
An ex-journalist, Mrs Zohrabyan once held a poll only to find out
the people did not know single winners elected to Parliament.
As regards the remarks that the Council of Europe objects to the
proportional representation system in Armenia, Mrs Zohrabyan, who is
also a member of Armenia's delegation to the CE Parliamentary Assembly
(PACE), noted that the CE has no right to decide instead of Armenia,
but can only give the country advice.
Chairman of the ARF-D parliamentary group Vahan Hovhannisyan resonded
to his opponents' arguments that Russia regrets having switched over
to the proportional representation system and now wants to re-establish
the previous system.
According to Hovhannisyan, the argument does not sound convincing.
Russia is a great country, and the proportional representation system
is not effective there.
On the threshold of the congress, the ANC issued a statement on its
support to the congress and to any decision aimed at ensuring free
and fair elections.
ANC Coordinator Levon Zurabyan pointed out that the political forces
have one common task, namely, destroying the election rigging system;
otherwise, "the people's will is going to be violated once more."
The number of political forces participating in the discussions is
evidence of serious threat of election rigging, Zorabyan said.
He pointed out the problem of 500,000 "ghosts" - people who, though
outside Armenia, "miraculously" vote.
Hovhannes Margaryan of the Rule of Law party said that amendments
to Armenia's election law reduced the number of MPs elected from
single-mandate constituencies. The party is for further reduction
of this number. He believes a switch-over to the proportional
representation system requires certain work. He stated that the party
will join further discussions.
Gurgen Arsenyan, Chairman of the United Workers' Party is for the
proportional representation system. According to him, it will preclude
the reproduction of the ruling party. The authorities are using the
single-winner voting system as athletes use dopes, he said. Armenia's
people can act as an "anti-dope," he said.
Aram Harutyunyan, Chairman of the National Accord party, said that
the ruling party, RPA, must realize they may become opposition one
day. So they should ask for the proportional representation system
to remain in effect.
The RPA member Koryun Nahapetyan, the strongest opponent of switch-over
to the proportion representation system, does not understand the
reasons why different political forces have this issue high on their
political agenda now. The arguments that Armenia's Constitution
requires a complete switch-over to the proportional representation
system must be rejected, he said.
"We need political reforms," Nahapetyan said. He noted that a
system political forces reach an agreement on is the one that meets
international standards.