"Opposition will not benefit from proportional system"
Republican party MP Artak Davtyan does not think that the Heritage and ARF-Dashnaktsutyun parties will take seats in parliament, if the country switches to 100-percent proportional representation system.
"At best, one of them will receive more votes," the Republican MP said during a debate with Alexander Arzumanyan, a member of the Free Democrats party.
Artak Davtyan disapproves the idea of switching to 100-percent proportional system of parliamentary representation. He said his party favors a mixed election system. Further, he noted that the proportional representation has its shortcomings, for instance, the views of political parties are not taken into account, besides, few parties (3-4 at best) take seats in parliament.
"If you believe that your party and the Prosperous Armenia Party will be presented in parliament by the proportional system, then do it. You needn't take care of us," said Alexander Arzumanyan.
"God forfend! Why should we care for you? We are concerned about the country," said his opponent from the Republican party.
To shatter his opponent's fears, Alexander Arzumanyan suggested lowering the election threshold and said that the ‘opposition is likely to win the elections by the majoritarian system.'
Regarding the opposition's claims that switching to a proportional system of elections is one of the means of having a parliament with more qualified lawmakers, Artak Davtyan reminded that the 1990 elections to the Supreme Council were held by the 100-percent majoritarian system. "Later the proportion was upset in favor of the proportional system. Has the quality of the legislative body bettered ever since?" he asked.
In reply, Alexander Arzumanyan said that authorities in Armenia seek to provide their reproduction.
"But if in 1995 they tried to retain power, it does not mean that they must do the same today," he said.
