REFORMS TO ELECTORAL CODE ARE DISCUSSED AT YSU

The secretary of the Commission for Electoral Code Reforms Daniel Ioannisyan, the member of the Commission Hamazasp Danielyan, the YSU Vice-Rector on Students. Alumni and Public Relations Ruben Markosyan, as well as lecturers and students of different faculties of YSu were present at the discussion.

Daniel Ioannisyan expressed gratitude to Yerevan State University for supporting the discussion.

He said that Armenia is getting ready for snap parliamentary elections which most likely will be held during the current year.

Ioannisyan said that it is necessary to promote competition of ideas, ideologies and programs and to increase the airtime to be given to parties. He spoke about various motivations for participating or not participating in elections.

He referred to imposing pressure on soldiers and added that equal possibilities must be created for them to become aware of pre-election programs.

Besides, now in case of administrative violations it is possible to apply to the Administrative court without mediation of the RA Central Electoral Commission.

Referring to fake information on the participants of voting Daniel Ioanissyan said that it had been decriminalized with the exception of the cases when it is done intentionally.

Reforms to the Electoral Code offer to have representation of 4 parties instead of 3 at the National Assembly.
“With these changes numerous proposals made by Venice Commission in connection with the current code but never fulfilled can be implemented.

The representatives of Venice Commission are soon arriving in Armenia to participate in the activities”, said Daniel Ioannisyan.
Speaking about the contrary scenario, i.e. if the National Assembly doesn’t confirm the reforms, he said that it will cause lots of technical complications as different establishments have terms of functions which are impossible to implement by the current code in case of snap parliamentary elections.

During the discussion a number of questions and concerns were heard related to the proportional electoral system, dissolution of the National Assembly in case of the Prime Minister’s resignation. Constitutional amendments and changes.