04.03.2017-10.04.2017 • No: 110 EVALUATION OF THE APRIL 2, 2017 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA The 6th parliamentary elections were held in context, the period of socio-economic tension in Under these conditions, 1,500 deputy candidates Armenia on April 2, 2017. According to the the country, where alliance ties with Russia participated in the recent elections. According to unofficial results announced by the Armenian (especially military field) have been strength- the results of 2009 polling stations operated in 13 Central Election Commission, 60.86% (namely ened. As known, it is expected that the Constitu- electoral districts nationwide, the distribution of 1,575,382) of the 2,588,590 registered voters tional reform, with its first four chapters entered votes is as follows: the Republican Party of participated in the elections and the Republican into force on December 22, 2015, will be com- Armenia 49.17% (771,247); the Tsarukyan Alli- Party of Armenia won with 49.17% (771,247) of pleted by April 2018. The Constitutional Reform, ance 27.35% (428,965); the Way Out Alliance total votes. which was launched by the initiative of the Pres- 7.78% (122,049); the Armenian Revolutionary According to the Article 89 of the Constitution of ident Serzh Sargsyan, was supported by the Federation “Dashnaksutyun” Party 6.58% the Republic of Armenia with the amendments, Armenian Republican Party, the Prosperous (103,173); the Armenian Renaissance Party which were introduced by the referendum on Armenia Party and the Armenian Revolutionary 3.72% (58,277); the Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian December 6, 2015, Armenia has a single legisla- Federation “Dashnaksutyun” Party. The Herit- Alliance 2.07% (32,504); the Armenian National tive body composed of at least 101 deputies. age, the Rule of Law and the Armenian National Congress and the People's Party of Armenia According to the Electoral Code of the Republic Congress parties strongly opposed the amend- Alliance 1.66% (25,975); the Free Democrats of Armenia, parliamentary candidates may be ment to the Constitution. Basically, the reform Party 0.94% (14,746) and the Armenian Com- nominated by the political parties and the alli- aims to strengthen the role of the parties in the munist Party 0.75% (11,745). Accordingly, two ances of the political parties. Alliances of the political system and to increase their influence on political parties and two alliances of political political parties may be formed by at least two the formation of the Cabinet (Government) by parties could pass the 5% and 7% thresholds. political parties and each political party can only collecting political power in the hands of the According to the lists of political parties and be involved in one alliance. The political party National Assembly. Thus, it is aimed to facilitate alliance of political parties, the Republican Party included in an alliance cannot participate in the the transition from the presidential system to the of Armenia took 58 seats, the Tsarukyan Alliance elections alone (Article 81). In order to be elect- parliamentary system and to expand the powers took 31 seats, the Way Out Alliance took 9 seats ed to the National Assembly as a deputy in the of the Prime Minister. For instance, according to and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation name of a party or alliance of parties, a candidate the new Constitution, the term of office of the “Dashnaksutyun” Party took 7 seats of the total needs to win at least 5% of total votes of the President was increased from 5 years to 7 years, 105 seats in the National Assembly. voters of his party and at least 7% of total votes while the President's right to be elected twice has Total of 650 representatives from international of his alliances (Article 95). Armenian citizens who are over the age of 25 years and who are been removed. The same person may be elected organizations such as the Organization for Secu- legally eligible may be elected as a deputy of the as the President of the Republic only once. (Arti- rity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office National Assembly (Article 80). The deputies of cle 124). Moreover, the provision for the Presi- for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the National Assembly are elected for 5 years dent to be elected by the citizens was directly the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of (Article 90). abolished and electing the members of the Na- Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent Within the framework of the election laws, five tional Assembly by the vote of four-thirds of the States (CIS), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, political parties and one alliance of political deputies was ruled. On the other hand, according the CIS Parliamentary Assembly and European parties could pass the 5% and 7% vote thresholds to other amendments, upon recommendation of Parliament, and 28 thousand local observers in the 5th parliamentary elections, which were the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic monitored the National Assembly elections in held on May 6, 2012 with the participation of 8 appoints the Ambassadors (Article 132) and the Armenia. The CIS representatives reported that political parties and 1 alliance of political parties. Chief of General Staff and at the time of war, the the elections were open, transparent, legitimate As a result, the Armenian Republican Party took Prime Minister can act as the Commander-in- and adhered to fundamental ethical principles. 40 seats, the Prosperous Armenia Party took 28 Chief of the armed forces (Article 155). However, according to the OSCE representa- seats, the Armenian National Congress (Opposi- The “Four-Day War”, which took place in Na- tives, the election process was generally calm tion Alliance) took 7 seats, the Heritage Party, gorno-Karabakh on April 2-5, 2016, prompted and peaceful and the principles of freedom were the Armenian Revolutionary Federation “Dash- the Armenian authorities to strengthen their respected in the elections, although some organi- naksutyun” and the Rule of Law Party each took military alliance with Russia. In this direction, zational problems and undue interference in the 5 seats in the National Assembly. The other 41 during his official visit to Moscow, the Defense process, mostly by party representatives, were seats were won by the Republican Party of Ar- Minister of Armenia, Vigen Sargsyan, on No- observed. menia (29 seats) and the Prosperous Armenia vember 30, 2016, signed an agreement on the To conclude, according to the current Constitu- Party (9 seats) in accordance with the majority United Group of Troops, which united the two tion, Serj Sargsyan's presidential term will end on election system. The Heritage Party, the Armeni- countries' armies. The official sources state that March 2018 and constitutional reforms will be an Revolutionary Federation “Dashnaksutyun” the United Group of Troops will include the completed by April 2018. In this context, parties and the independent candidates each Russian 102nd Military Base in Armenia and Sargsyan, who was born in 1954, may continue gained 1 seat. The fact that the Armenian Repub- some military units affiliated to the Armed Forc- to rule the country over the Republican Party of lican Party constitutes the vast majority of the es. It is also worth noting that the group is not Armenia. Indeed, the Constitutional reforms will National Parliament means that the government against third countries. According to the press remove possible obstacles that Sargsyan can face did not face a serious opposition from the Par- reports in Armenia, the main task of the United in the process. The election results also provide a liament in the law-making process. Group of Troops is to forewarn Russia and Ar- majority of support for Sargsyan. It should also The parliamentary elections corresponded to the menia of possible military attacks and to protect be expressed that there is quite high desire to period, in which a Constitution reform was being the items and borders that are considered im- receive the Armenian Revolutionary Federation made, protests of some opposition groups were portant for the existence and continuation of the “Dashnaksutyun” Party’s support and Russia’s being held in the country, high tensions between state. In short, it can be predicted that the mili- support in future. Armenia and Azerbaijan have become intensive tary alliances between Armenia and Russia will due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and in this be strengthened in the near future. Written by Aidarbek Amirbek, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan Process are currently co-chaired by Turk- nomic and investment spheres. The sides al- Politics, Foreign Affairs and Security menistan and Azerbaijan. so signed a contract on supply of fresh and ñ The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mir- processed fruit and vegetable products worth The Central Election Commission of Arme- ñ ziyoyev, signed a law on ratification of an $612 million to Russia, a Memorandum on nia reported that the President Serzh agreement with Russia to develop military the supply of Russian oil to Uzbekistan and Sarkisian's ruling Republican Party won the and technical cooperation. The law was an Agreement on cooperation in the supply parliamentary elections with 49.17% taking adopted by the Parliament in March 2017. of excavator equipment. 58 out of 105 mandates in the new Parlia- The agreement on military and technical co- ñ During the 3rd Meeting of the Azerbaijan- ment, while the opposition Tsarukian Alli- operation signed between Russia and Uz- Estonia Intergovernmental Commission on ance gained 27.35% (31 mandates). It was bekistan in 2016 is aimed at further deepen- Trade and Economic Cooperation, Azerbai- also stated that pro-Western opposition Yelk ing cooperation in the military and technical jan’s Minister of Transport, Communication Alliance (Way Out) and Armenian Revolu- sphere and maintaining the scientific, tech- and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade tionary Federation got 7.78% (9 mandates) nical, production and technological potential and Estonia’s Minister of Public Admin- and 6.58% (7 mandates) of votes, respec- of the parties in the field of production and istration, Mihhail Korb signed the protocol tively.