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Bisharyan Calls Mher Sedrakyan and Grish of Bellagio `Neighborhood
Tough Guys' Elected Through Election Bribes and Pressure
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/11/16/131331/
NOVEMBER 16, 2012 19:30
In response to a question of www.aravot.am whether she agreed with
second President Robert Kocharyan that MPs elected through
majoritarian representation were feudal lords, Heghine Bisharyan, the
leader of the Rule of Law Party (RLP) parliamentary group, said: `I by
no means want to make such assessments of majoritarian representation,
but we are against and want that voting system be voided. At the end
of the day, the role of parties also increases. I, as a candidate
nominated for majoritarian representation twice, lost both times,
because election bribes and the struggle of neighborhood tough guys
and other people of that kind against me caused my defeat by a few
thousands of votes. This means that there is unfairness here; there is
dishonesty here. In that sense, majoritarian representation prevents
elections from being more transparent and of higher quality. Perhaps,
there are majoritarian MPs who can be called highly qualified. I by no
means want to assess everyone as such, because there are MPs who are
literate, well-bred; they are good MPs. That is why I don't want to
insult my colleagues, but I don't accept that voting system.' We asked
to clarify whether Grigori Margaryan (aka Grish of Bellagio) who won
in her electoral district, no. 11, and was also endorsed by the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) had handed out election bribes,
Heghine Bisharyan said: `Certainly. If he won, he was the one.' We
inquired whether there was proof that he had handed out election
bribes, Ms. Bisharyan said, `I say what my electorate said. My
electorate was not small - roughly 13 thousand people. They said that
the opponent had handed out money; that was why we had lost. I ought
to believe my voters, employees of my headquarters, residents of my
neighborhood, my building who saw everywhere what was going on.' Mher
Sedrakyan, a member of the RPA parliamentary group, said that people
who didn't enjoy good reputation opposed majoritarian representation.
In Heghine Bisharyan's words: `Such neighborhood tough guys can boldly
support majoritarian representation, because they cannot appear on a
political force's list for proportional representation, despite their
being neighborhood tough guys.' We asked to clarify whether it didn't
do parties any credit to have such persons on their lists for
proportional representation, Heghine Bisharyan said, `No. I am
convinced that no political force includes those neighborhood tough
guys in its list. That is why they support majoritarian representation
with its neighborhood tough guys, pressure; we know what election was
held in the community of Erebuni - they are elected majoritarian MPs
through pressure and ballot stuffing. That is why they, particularly
he, support it.'
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
Tough Guys' Elected Through Election Bribes and Pressure
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/11/16/131331/
NOVEMBER 16, 2012 19:30
In response to a question of www.aravot.am whether she agreed with
second President Robert Kocharyan that MPs elected through
majoritarian representation were feudal lords, Heghine Bisharyan, the
leader of the Rule of Law Party (RLP) parliamentary group, said: `I by
no means want to make such assessments of majoritarian representation,
but we are against and want that voting system be voided. At the end
of the day, the role of parties also increases. I, as a candidate
nominated for majoritarian representation twice, lost both times,
because election bribes and the struggle of neighborhood tough guys
and other people of that kind against me caused my defeat by a few
thousands of votes. This means that there is unfairness here; there is
dishonesty here. In that sense, majoritarian representation prevents
elections from being more transparent and of higher quality. Perhaps,
there are majoritarian MPs who can be called highly qualified. I by no
means want to assess everyone as such, because there are MPs who are
literate, well-bred; they are good MPs. That is why I don't want to
insult my colleagues, but I don't accept that voting system.' We asked
to clarify whether Grigori Margaryan (aka Grish of Bellagio) who won
in her electoral district, no. 11, and was also endorsed by the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) had handed out election bribes,
Heghine Bisharyan said: `Certainly. If he won, he was the one.' We
inquired whether there was proof that he had handed out election
bribes, Ms. Bisharyan said, `I say what my electorate said. My
electorate was not small - roughly 13 thousand people. They said that
the opponent had handed out money; that was why we had lost. I ought
to believe my voters, employees of my headquarters, residents of my
neighborhood, my building who saw everywhere what was going on.' Mher
Sedrakyan, a member of the RPA parliamentary group, said that people
who didn't enjoy good reputation opposed majoritarian representation.
In Heghine Bisharyan's words: `Such neighborhood tough guys can boldly
support majoritarian representation, because they cannot appear on a
political force's list for proportional representation, despite their
being neighborhood tough guys.' We asked to clarify whether it didn't
do parties any credit to have such persons on their lists for
proportional representation, Heghine Bisharyan said, `No. I am
convinced that no political force includes those neighborhood tough
guys in its list. That is why they support majoritarian representation
with its neighborhood tough guys, pressure; we know what election was
held in the community of Erebuni - they are elected majoritarian MPs
through pressure and ballot stuffing. That is why they, particularly
he, support it.'
Hripsime JEBEJYAN