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At May 6 extraordinary sitting of the RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, the package of draft laws on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Constitutional Law – the RA Electoral Code and the enclosed ones authored by the RA NA My Step Faction was debated in the first reading.

The key rapporteur Hamazasp Danielyan informed that the draft law was put in circulation still in March. It was sent to the CoE (Council of Europe) Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR for receiving an urgent opinion. It was received on April 22.

A number of work discussions took place related to the content of the draft law. Two key components being part of it were singled out, debated and voted.

There have been such amendments to the proposed package of draft laws which are of key importance from the viewpoint of the further democratization of Armenia, the formation of more inclusive political institutions and the increase of the representation of the Electoral Code.

The co-rapporteur Vahagn Hovakimyan thanked Hamazasp Danielyan and the members of the work group for developing an extensive and accurate bill.

Vahagn Hovakimyan introduced in detail the amendments to the revised legislative initiative, clarified the provision referring to the expansion of the opportunities on taking part in the second phase of the election.

The first RA Deputy Minister of Justice Kristinne Grigoryan informed that the Government and the Central Electoral Commission were already involved in the debates of the draft law and took part in the works of revisions. “It is important to record that the current power consistently carries out what it has promised. The bill designs rather progressive settlements which referring to the issues on the pre-election campaign, Kristinne Grigoryan said, noting that a separate article is envisaged in the law on Public Service related to the public servant’s political activity.”

The revised draft law was endorsed.