The Armenian Parliament has adopted amendments to the Electoral Code in the second reading on Tuesday, News Armenia reports.
The opposition expressed discontent with the amendments. The Dashnaktsutyun faction voted against the bill because none of its proposals were approved. The opposition believes that the authorities passed the amendments for their own benefit.
Head of the parliament commission for state legal affairs David Arutyunyan said that the bill will solve all problems of the presidential elections of 2008 and will take into account recommendations of the ODIHR/OSCE and the Constitutional Court.
Seven members of the Central Electoral Commission will be appointed by the president for 5 years. There will be 15 candidates, represented by the Ombudsman, chairman of the Chamber of Lawyers and chairman of the Armenian Appeal Court.
At least two CEC members need juridical education and at least two need to be females.
The number of voters registered will be announced 30, 20 and 10 days before voting.
Lists of voters may be printed for observers. Authorized delegates will be allowed to record almost any sessions of electoral commissions to avoid secret voting.
Candidates will be provided with free rooms for meetings with voters.
Charity organizations with names resembling the names of parties or candidates will not be able to provide support. A special monitoring service will control the process.
About 20% of candidates will be females.
Justice Minister Grayr Tovmasyan said that, disagreements on the amendments are minimal. Mechanisms to avoid violations are efficient.
Head of the Armenian Republican Party Galust Saakyan said that the final version of amendments has undergone maximum adjustments possible. It took many recommendations into account.
Head of the Dashnaktsutyun fraction Vaan Ovannisyan noted that the amendments are great progress, yet none of his fraction’s proposals were considered. Another member of the fraction Armen Rustamyan said that the authorities will have more opportunities for being re-elected.
