Opposition challenges Constitutional Court panel

PanARMENIAN.Net - The composition of the Constitutional Court currently hearing the case has a legitimacy problem, Aram Vardevanyan, representative of the Strong Armenia alliance, said during proceedings challenging the results of the National Assembly elections.

Earlier, Aram Orbelyan, representing the Prosperous Armenia Party, requested that the case be heard by the full bench, including Judges Vladimir Vardanyan and Artak Zeynalyan, who are not participating in the proceedings, Factor.am reported.

Judge Seda Safaryan, whose own participation in the case had also been questioned, responded to Orbelyan's motion. The court had previously decided that she could remain on the panel.

"A party does not have the right to file a motion concerning a judge's incompatibility. A party has the right to raise such facts and inform the court about such circumstances, and they have exercised that right on numerous occasions," she said.

Her remarks were interrupted by Constitutional Court President Arman Dilanyan, who stated:

"Only if one of the judges of the Constitutional Court raises the issue of a judge's inability to participate will the court consider that matter."

On June 14, the final results of the June 7 parliamentary elections were published. Civil Contract received 726,819 votes, or 49.7456%; Strong Armenia received 340,006 votes, or 23.2710%; and the Hayastan alliance received 144,983 votes, or 9.9231%. The Prosperous Armenia Party failed to pass the 4% electoral threshold, receiving 58,287 votes, or 3.9893%.

Civil Contract will hold 64 seats in parliament, including three reserved for national minority representatives. Strong Armenia will have 29 seats, including one reserved for an Assyrian representative, while the Hayastan alliance will hold 12 seats.