The new draft for the Electoral Code was rejected in parliament. 56 deputies voted in favor, and three voted against. However, the draft needed 63 votes in order to pass.
Before they began to vote, Naira Zohrabyan held a speech, ordering the RPA to not get revenge since that would not do anything for them. She ordered everyone to vote in favor of the Electoral Code and to not sabotage the vote. She said that a political boycott is understandable if there is a political environment surrounding the situation, but that is not the case here. The RPA simply wants to say that they can reject a plan even if it’s a good one. “No one here is trying to convince you of anything. Don’t think so highly of yourselves to think that we came to beg.” Zohrabyan announced that if there is no political parity here, then they need to participate in the vote, not boycott it.
Head of the RPA faction Vahram Baghdasaryan told everyone to not listen to the opinions of other political forces and that it’s better for everyone to focus on themselves. The RPA decided that widespread discussions are necessary for the draft and that there needs to be a consensus. Presenting the Electoral Code to the National Assembly showed that the government had adopted another form of politics. Vahram Baghdasaryan said that the political factions had only 2 business days to look over the final draft.
Minister of Justice Artak Zeynalyan said that the Venice Commission allowed for exclusions if there is a wide consensus. This can happen if a complete agreement is included in the government’s agenda, and the government’s plans are accepted from all sides.
Hripsime Jebejyan
