Babloyan: RPA is not to blame for the failure of amending Electoral  Code

ArmInfo.Republican Party of Armenia is not to blame for the failure of the draft of Election Code amendments, 69 MPs had expressed their support for the document, they  could come and vote. The President of the National Assembly of the  Republic of Armenia, Ara Babloyan, stated this from the rostrum of  the parliament, responding to the allegations that the RPA had failed  the document, not having appeared at the vote.

"I don't understand what claims could be against the RPA, we  initially stated our negative position on the document and remained  committed to it, we were honest from the beginning. But 69 MPs had  supported the document, these votes would be enough to pass the bill,  if they would all appear at the meeting and vote for it.

So, I state once again, all claims must be against the supporters of  this document, who, by missing the meeting, failed it. And the RPA,  like any political force, is free to have its position on any issue  that may not coincide with the opinion of the majority, " Babloyan  said.

In turn, the MP from the Tsarukyan bloc Naira Zohrabyan stated that  at present the Tsarukyan and Yelk blocs are collecting signatures for  holding an extraordinary sitting of the National Assembly on October  29, which will again discuss the Electoral Code reforms draft. She  called on the RPA to support the document this time, since it is much  more democratic than the current Electoral Code. At the same time,  she assured that all those MPs who support the draft, but for one  reason or another did not appear at yesterday's meeting, as a result  of which the document was rejected, will come to the vote on October  29.  Another MP from the bloc Tigran Urikhanyan went even further,  offering on the document's vote day to re- assemble the people in  front of the NA building in order to put pressure on those deputies  who do not want to vote for the document.  To note, yesterday the RPA  stated that it opposes the draft reform of the EC, since it was  drafted and put to a vote hastily, did not pass the examination of  the Venice Commission, the proposals of deputies were not included,  and no consensus on the document was reached.

Meanwhile, 69 MPs earlier said they were ready to support the draft,  but as noted by Ara Babloyan, during the discussion of the document  in the conference room there were only 50 people. "We were even  forced to take a 20-minute break before the voting so that the  deputies would arrive in the NA meeting room.  Meanwhile, at the  moment of voting there were 59 MPs in the room, of which 56 voted in  favor and the document did not pass, "Babloyan explained.  However,  immediately after the vote, Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  made a video message and accused the RPA of sabotaging and failing  the document. At the same time, he stressed that the December  elections will be held with a new EC or with an old one.