Armenia not ready to shift to proportional representation system - Republican MP.

Armenia is not yet ready to adopt a 100-percent proportional representation system, according to Hovhannes Sahakyan, a lawmaker of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sahakyan pointed out to certain obstacles, noting that such measure has to be first of all enshrined in the Constitution. 

He said their political opponents backing the proportional system do not have well-founded arguments.

“The main problem raised by the opposition is that the majority system ensures votes for political forces [as opposed to individual candidates]”, he said.

Sahakyan said the MPs elected through the single-seat constituency system are normally aware of the situation in polling stations and can speak of them. He noted further that voters in remote village are not always familiar with the political parties and their electoral programs.

But he declared, on behalf of his party, that they will allow to include the bill in the National Assembly’s agenda.