Prosperous Armenia split over shift to proportional system

PanARMENIAN.Net - Member of the Prosperous Armenia party Naira Zohrabyan said at parliamentary debates on the shift to 100 per cent proportional system of elections that there are different positions on the issue within the party.

Though the party program refers to move to fully proportional system, some MPs believe “one can’t change the rules 60 days prior to the elections," she said.

Zohrabyan said she and some other deputies think rules can be changed anytime, if necessary. In this regard, the party decided to hold free voting “in line with one’s views and conscience”, she said.

The Armenian parliament held hearings on February 15 on transfer to 100 per cent proportional system of elections. The opposition Heritage and ARF Dashnaktsutyun parties came up with a joint statement on December 27, 2011 calling on the authorities to cancel the majority electoral system and move to 100 per cent proportional system of elections. The Armenian National Congress (ANC) and a number of other opposition forces backed this initiative. ANC also declared they plan to organize a rally during parliamentary discussions to support the idea.

The coalition Prosperous Armenia party together with the opposition Heritage and ARF Dashnaktsutyun parties addressed the speaker of the National Assembly Samvel Nikoyan on January 26 to organize parliamentary hearings on the issue of moving to 100 per cent proportional system of elections.