Armenian Parliament is debating bill aimed at Strong Armenia  opposition bloc 

ArmInfo. The adoption of the draft amendments to the RA Electoral Code is necessary to overcome the problems that have arisen in practice during the electoral  process, as well as to ensure effective oversight and the proper  organization and conduct of the electoral process. 

This was stated by Arusyak Dzhualakyan, a member of the NA from the  ruling Civil Contract faction, at an extraordinary session of the RA  National Assembly on April 7, presenting the legislative initiative  on behalf of a group of MPs from the ruling party. According to the  MP, amendments introduced to the law on May 7, 2021, stipulated that  in elections to the National Assembly and Community Councils of  Elders held under a proportional electoral system, the ballot for the  said election is considered invalid if it contains any notes or  marks, or if the envelope contains any other item besides the ballot.  Amendments introduced to the law on December 5, 2024, removed the  provision requiring the envelope to contain any other item besides  the ballot, which could, in practice, violate the voter's right to a  secret ballot. This provision is being reinstated. This is necessary  to prevent a situation in which a voter could receive an electoral  bribe by inserting a piece of paper into the envelope identifying  them, for example, by a serial number known only to the payer.  Furthermore, the provision requiring the presence of any object in  the envelope other than the specified ballot sample as grounds for  invalidating the ballot could serve as a means of monitoring  individuals who have received electoral bribes.

According to the legislative initiative, the use of personal names in  the names of blocs is also prohibited.  Specifically, the name of a  bloc of parties cannot include proper names, names of state bodies or  local government bodies, or similar names.

This initiative, as observers note, is clearly aimed at Samvel  Karapetyan, whose first and last name appear in the name of the  "Strong Armenia" bloc. It should also be noted that this wording,  introduced two months before the elections, contradicts the  recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.   As a reminder, on March 31, it was announced that the "Strong  Armenia" party would participate in the upcoming parliamentary  elections as part of the "Strong Armenia with Samvel Karapetyan"  bloc.