YEREVAN. – During its session on Thursday, the Government of Armenia rejected the legislative initiative on holding the upcoming parliamentary elections solely by 100-percent proportional election system.

This matter was presented to the Government by Deputy Justice Minister Grigor Muradyan, who noted that the elections’ effectiveness and fairness are not conditioned on any election system. In his words, the majority election system allows for the presentation, at the National Assembly, of the interests of certain cross-section of the population.     

To note, the parliamentary opposition’s Heritage and ARF Dashnaktsutyun parties had motioned for changing to a 100-percent proportional election system. Furthermore, parliamentary hearings on this matter will be held on February 15, and the ruling coalition’s Prosperous Armenia Party had likewise joined the initiative to hold these hearings.    

Those behind this initiative note that, with small exceptions, solely oligarchs become MPs by way of the majority election system.

The non-parliamentary political forces support this initiative, too.