Draft Electoral Code passes third reading in Armenian Parliament (video)
On Wednesday, May 25, the Armenian National Assembly voted 102 to 17 to pass the draft Electoral Code. The bill passed its third reading with 3 abstentions during a special sitting convened at the initiative of the Armenian Government. Before the vote, Levon Zurabyan, who heads the parliamentary group of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), said they want to achieve a broad consensus on the EC and involve everyone in the discussions of the measure. “We cannot manage to discuss all issues in a single sitting. I just wonder how the ruling party imagines that consensus?” asked Zurabyan. NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan refrained from replying to Zurabyan and urged the lawmakers to stay in the hall and participate in the vote. Minister-Chief of Government Staff Davit Harutyunyan said in his closing speech that during this period had made several adjustments: mistakes had been corrected, some sentences had been reviewed and edited. “If after June 1 you find such mechanisms that may strengthen the EC, we shall again convene a special sitting or session to submit proposals and amend the law,” he said. Levon Zurabyan announced that they were going to vote against the bill since ‘it did not meet many of the recommendations made by the OSCE, civil society and political forces.’ HAK lawmaker Hrant Bagratyan said, in turn, the bill did not address many important issues raised by his teammates. “You will regret it that you upset the opposition so much.”
