Hovhannes Sahakyan considers switchover to the proportional representation system not effective.

On Thursday, Larisa Alaverdyan, a Heritage party member, and Hovhannes Sahakyan of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to sum up the Wednesday discussions of a switchover to the proportional representation system.

Alaverdyan compared the MPs elected from single-member constituencies to Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. “Any person having money may run for parliament from a single-member constituency and be elected.”

In response, Hovhannes Sahakyan said: “No one clearly stated which of the voting systems could meet democratic standards. It is clear that the voting system does not matter at all. Of importance is civil culture and political will, which are conditions for fair elections,” Sahakyan said.

As regards the legal aspect of the opposition’s proposal for a switchover to the proportional representation system, Sahakyan does not consider the proposal effective.

With repect to the political aspect of the proposal, he said: “Many of the MPs elected from single-member constituencies, although inactive in law-making, are active in their constituencies, and people trust them.”

As to “PR” moves, Alaverdyan said: “Armenia’s Public TV presented the observer status European People's Party (EPP) granted the RPA as the RPA’s political victory.”

In the context of political will, Sahakyan cited the example of the mayor election in Hrazdan. According to him, the election was “obviously fair”. He considers all the counter-arguments to be artificial.

Alaverdyan asked her opponent if he really believes no election bribes are offered before the elections. “It is too bad that, with external pressure lacking, money is offered in the streets, and all the citizens know about it very well,” she said.

“Election bribes are corrupt practice. They are practiced in all the developing countries and are most difficult to expose,” answered Sahakyan.