Pursuant Electoral Code Coalitions may be Developed between Maximum 3 Political Parties

As a result of Constitutional amendments in Armenia, we deal with new political realities. Arpine Hovhannisyan, RA minister of Justice, told this at today’s discussions on new RA Electoral Code, stating that in the axis of Constitutional amendments lay amelioration of electoral system and revealing issues on electoral system and their solution.

She stated, that the first necessity of adoption of Electoral Code comes from the very Constitution, “Electoral Code is the main legal document, or is the first legal document, which should be adopted after Constitution and enter into force. By Electoral Code an attempt should be made to solve main directions that Constitution faces, in particular, providing proportional electoral system, stable parliamentary majority and a range of other issues, which are the basis of Constitution. From this perspective Electoral Code made an attempt to solve issues which have been outspoken to this or that extent and have been considered as problematic.”

Introducing main regulations, Arpine Hovhannisyan mentioned that the first issue is provision of proportional electoral system: it’s provided under current Constitution that National Assembly elections are held by proportional electoral system.

“In this period study of various models of proportional electoral system, in fact, shows that there are different countries of proportional model, which have numerous advantages and disadvantages, and any of them is responsible for the solution of certain issues. One of disadvantages of current Electoral Code, in case of proportional electoral system, absence of connection between the voter and polling station was principal, and in case of majoritarian electoral system we mainly deal with emphasizing or underlining the factor of a person, an individual.

Model suggested by us, I must say, in its essence is a successful comparative model of principles of party and individual.

We propose that RA territory was divided into 13 constituencies: 9—in the regions and 4—in Yerevan. That way, on the one hand advantages of proportional electoral system will be guaranteed, on the other hand, there will be a possibility for the voter to understand, from which district his/her MP is. Let me start from the fact that by Electoral Code we provide that each party or ally of parties should submit a national list and regional lists. National list, in its turn, consists of two parts.

In the first part at least 30 and maximum 300 candidates are included, from which regional lists are made. Any candidate included in regional list is available in national list, however, there may be candidates in national list, which aren’t included in regional lists. Distribution of mandates is implemented on account of 101 MPs, plus 105 places allocated to 4 national minorities enshrined by the Constitution.

Basically, by the formula provided by Electoral Code, it’ll be distributed by 50/50 principle from national and regional lists.”

Arpine Hovhannisyan said that we may speak of being elected to the National Assembly and distribution of mandates, if any political party obtained 53 mandates or 51% of votes. But as this is less probable, formation of coalitions has been provided. However, the Constitution provides the idea of stabile majority, which means, when any political party obtained 53 mandates, they are added up to 54%, which will give the opportunity to develop stable parliamentary majority.

“When as a result of elections any party didn’t obtain 53 mandates, then we were speaking of initial distribution of mandates and allocate time, so that coalitions are formed. Two crucial components are necessary for the development of coalitions: they should have a candidate for the Prime Minister, the three parties together, or parties entering into coalition have 51% of votes. In case, when in the period, provided by the law, the party or parties don’t obtain 51% of votes, and don’t form a coalition, they pass to the second round,” Arpine Hovhannisyan said, stating that in the second round new alliances may be developed.

She also stated if any political party or alliance, or parties entered into coalition will have 2/3 of votes, they’ll be added until 1/3 is provided.

The Minister of Justice said that Central Electoral Commission will be elected by the National Assembly: the corresponding commission will introduce candidates, and by 3/5 of votes CEC will be formed. She also stated that the trustees and observers are entitled to familiarize with the lists, following the voting day.

Arpine Hovhannisyan highlighted provision of additional mechanism of appellation connected to order of inaccuracies.

She also said for each party a different color ballot will be provided, which will give the possibility to see number of votes during the calculation. She also stated that the ballot will be inserted in a non-transparent envelope, and the next ballot will be thrown into the box, and the voter won’t take out any ballot, which would provide the opportunity to consider his/her choice revealed. The envelope will be stapled and thrown into the ballot-box.

By Ofelya Hovhannisyan