YEREVAN. – Several political forces’ claims that solely the proportional system secures free and transparent elections are exaggerated, to put it mildly, the ruling coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Mkrtich Minasyan stated during a press conference on Tuesday.    

In his words, there are numerous European countries where both the majority and proportional election systems are used, just like in Armenia. Minasyan also noted that certain activities are done in Armenia, after each election, toward improving the election system. 

“Yesterday [Monday] John Prescott [the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Co-Rapporteur on Armenia] likewise noted that what they saw in Armenia’s new electoral code is truly a step toward a reform. He also noted that it is up to the country to decide on the majority and proportional [election systems],” Mkrtich Minasyan added. 

The MP also recalled that the country’s President clearly instructed that the next elections be much more fair, transparent, and non-controversial.    

And in response to the query as to whether the Karabakh issue will be discussed more actively during this election season, too, RPA MP said: “The Karabakh issue will be at the focus of the authorities and the opposition alike, this time as well, but, naturally, it will not be resolved either today, or in one month.”