The emotions on the Electoral code remain tense as there is an opinion that such a mechanism is offered under the veil of proportional representation during which the defects of the majoritarian electoral system would further be emphasized.
The national minorities living in Armenia however seem not to be in a hurry to complain of the document. In an interview with Aravot, people are pleased that finally, 4 seats of the National Assembly MPs will be distributed among the national minorities.
According to the EC, a political party, alliance of political parties having the highest coefficient in the beginning of the calculation of coefficients shall receive one mandate of a representative of national minority. The next vacant mandate of a representative of national minority shall be received by the political party, alliance of political parties having a higher coefficient as compared to other political parties, alliances of political parties. Calculation of coefficients shall be repeated until the four mandates are distributed. In the case of equal highest coefficients, a mandate shall be distributed by drawing of lots. When distributing mandates of representatives of national minority the first mandate shall — from among the candidates for Deputy who are representatives of a national minority with the largest number of resident population — be given to the candidate listed under number one in the second part of the electoral list of the respective political party, alliance of political parties; the second — to the number one from among the candidates for Deputy of the respective political party, alliance of political parties who are representatives of a national minority with the second largest number of resident population; the third — to the number one from among the candidates for Deputy of the respective political party, alliance of political parties who are representatives of a national minority with the third largest number of resident population; the fourth — to the number one from among the candidates for Deputy who are representatives of a national minority with the fourth largest number of resident population.
In an interview with “Aravot”, the Chairman of the Council of “Midia-Shangal” Yezidi National Union NGO, Amo Sharoyan, is happy that finally seats will be allocated to the at the National Assembly. He says, “It was a necessity, unfortunately, the representatives of national minorities are always missing in our legislative body, though the public always wanted to see them in the parliament. It did not work out in the past, but now, thank God, this chance is given. It is not only a right but also a chance for the right for the representative of national minorities to participate in the legislation of our country.” Amo Sharoyan has no fear that the mandates allocated to the national minorities will be served for the ruling force. “The rights of national minorities in our state are the highest value and when deciding on the policy, their voices are taken into account,” said our interlocutor optimistically.
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Chairman of “Atur” Assyrian Association, Arsen Mikhailov, in an interview with “Aravot”, estimated the fact of allocating seats at the National Assembly for the national minorities positive but, on the other hand, he added, “Certainly, we are pleased that there is such a clause, according to which, national minorities can be in the legislative body but, on the other hand, the mechanism is not clear yet. Hence, we will express an opinion later, we will wait and see what is going to happen and then we will say.” Chairwoman of the Union of Poles in Armenia “Polonia”, Mrs. Marzena Kurach-Aghamiryan, also expressed in short, “Everything is fine, we are very pleased.”
Gohar HAKOBYAN
Photo from sputnik.co.am
