ArmInfo.Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan is convinced that the entire Armenian system, including electoral one, needs reforms. So, on June 29, during the discussions on the implementation of 2016 budget, in response to a question from the representative of the Yelk faction regarding the comments of the EU Ambassador to Armenia Piotr Switalski on violations during the past parliamentary elections, Kocharian stated in part: "Our entire system needs reforms, including the electoral system. There is a lot of noise around all this, but any suggestions from our partners are subject to discussion, especially if they are based on our interests>.
Referring to Switalski's call to think about expanding the composition of the Council of the Central Election Commission and involving representatives of the civil sector, Kocharyan expressed the conviction that this step could increase corruption risks. "The issue of involving the public sector in the work of the CEC is discussed, but their inclusion in the commission can increase corruption risks," the deputy minister concluded.
To recall, on June 15, during the discussions "Electoral Processes in Armenia: Lessons Learned and Next Steps" in his speech, the head of the EU delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski, summing up the results of parliamentary elections held, noted many violations recorded during the elections and urged the country's authorities to finalize the new Electoral Code, to increase the level of public's trust in the electoral processes in the country. He also stated that the authorities of the country are trying to cut the IR for themselves, so that it serves the political interests of the elite. Switalski also called for thinking about how to increase confidence in electoral institutions and law enforcement agencies. This statement of the head of the EU delegation caused discontent of a number of representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia.