YEREVAN. - I can’t but notice that the authorities and the opposition are moving towards a consensus on the new Electoral Code, Armenian National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, who is also the Spokesperson for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said at the NA Monday, speaking at the discussion on the draft Electoral Code during its second reading.

“Last week the discussions took place almost every day, lasting till late at night. Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on State and Legal Affairs, Armenian Government Chief of Staff, as well as ruling party and opposition MPs together discussed the issues of interest to them.  And we can see progress here. Minister Davit Harutyunyan noted that very important issues had been discussed. And a number of proposals by the opposition were accepted,” Sharmazanov said.

Nevertheless, according to him, the sides haven’t yet agreed on a number of other proposals, but it is necessary to meet each other halfway till June 1: the Electoral Code should be adopted by then. “The glass is half-full and half empty? Let’s remember: it was empty before the discussions. Now we have filled half of it and are continuing to fill by joint forces. Finally, it shouldn’t be forgotten that during the first reading, the Electoral Code was adopted by 98 votes, 30 of them belonging to the opposition. Thus, words on the consensus, or at least preconditions for it, are absolutely relevant here,” Sharmazanov concluded.