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On May 6, the Parliament convened the extraordinary sitting by the deputies’ initiative. The item of debating the package of draft laws on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Constitutional Law - the RA Electoral Code and presented enclosed ones authored by the RA NA My Step Faction was on the agenda.

The key rapporteur Hamazasp Danielyan referred to the necessity of debating the draft law in extraordinary regime. He noted that the adopting of the draft law was a political commitment of My Step Faction of the NA seventh convocation. The works of the draft law started still in the summer of 2020, however some priorities were changed after the well-known events. At the beginning of 2021, the bill was presented to all parliamentary factions. On May 4, the bill was put in circulation, and it was simultaneously sent to the CoE (Council of Europe) Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR to receive a joint opinion. It was received on April 22. After putting the draft law in circulation, the parliamentary factions agreed to organize snap elections and hold on June 20.

Lilit Makunts noted in her speech on behalf of the RA NA My Step Faction. “The CoE Venice Commission endorsed the legislative package, and we had an aim to debate and adopt it before the dissolution of the National Assembly, taking into account the circumstance that the draft law was the commitment of our political group.” Lilit Makunts thanked her colleagues for making maximum efforts and doing scrupulous work.

The National Assembly decided to organize the debate of the package of the draft laws included on the agenda of the extraordinary sitting by voting, after adopting in the first reading during 24 hours and to set 8 hours for the written proposals on the package of the draft laws adopted in the first reading, as well as for presenting the endorsement of the Head Committee.

Hamazasp Danielyan stated that public debates, disputes in different formats were organized, the key provisions on regulation of the legislative initiative were presented to the public by media, after putting the draft law in circulation. He has underlined that there are some differences connected with the content of the draft law being in circulation: at the present time, the MPs will debate and vote the revised version. The key rapporteur touched upon the key amendments included in the legislative package, presented the content of the summary on the joint opinion of the CoE Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR. It was mentioned that the organized debates between political parties and public organizations were accepted with satisfaction. The package of the amendments is acceptable, as the previously voiced proposals of the CoE Venice Commission and the Office of OSCE/ODIHR were taken into consideration, as well as the final reports of the observation missions. The provisions on giving an opportunity to create management coalitions, reducing the electoral pledge for factions and increasing the quantity and the type of given information to the electorate through the internet website of the CEC (Central Electoral Commission) were highlighted.

The questions to the key rapporteur were related to the terms on coming into effect of the legislative package, steps being taken in terms of transparency of social media, the study of the international experience and the introduction of it to the public debate in the final form.

Vahagn Hovakimyan presented the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs. The deputy, referring to the raised question, that the draft law is presented amended, underlined that it was revised and as a result of which it was improved. Hovakimyan stressed that the legislative amendments would not have an impact on the NA snap elections, envisaged on June 20.

The Deputy Minister of Justice Kristinne Grigoryan presented the conclusion of the Government, informing that the executive body actively took part in the works of the legislative package. It was stated that the Government introduced extensive proposals, a big part of which were accepted. She has underlined that the amendments stem from the programme of the judicial and legal reforms approved by the Government, summarizing the important phase of electoral reforms which has started with a change aimed at passing to the simple proportional system.

The NA deputies gave speeches on the legislative package.

In Sofia Hovsepyan’s opinion, the legislative package should be widely debated, because all waited for the amendments to the Electoral Code after the NA elections for 2018. The deputy also presented proposals.

Arman Babajanyan assured that their faction, as an extra-parliamentary force, took part in debates. It has been noted that they have supported the amendments, and he will vote in favor of it.

Lilit Makunts especially has singled out the changed provisions over passing threshold and has underlined the envisaging of the expansion of expenses subject to registration which is aimed at financial transparency.

The key rapporteur Hamazasp Danielyan touched upon the questions and the proposals raised by the deputies.

The NA President Ararat Mirzoyan recorded that the opposition forces and different organizations voiced about the proposed amendments in the Republic of Armenia for years. They all are included in this package, which, according to him, will be worthy of appreciation.

The legislative package on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Constitutional Law - the RA Electoral Code was adopted in the first reading by voting.