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Armenia’s ruling bloc to amend electoral code ahead of snap elections, says PM Pashinyan

On March 18, Pashinyan announced in the wake of consultations with President Sarkisyan and leaders of the three parliamentary factions that snap parliamentary elections will take place on June 20

YEREVAN, March 24. /TASS/. Armenia’s ruling My Step bloc intends to amend the electoral code and switch to the proportional system before the snap parliamentary elections take place on June 20, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Wednesday.

"We held political consultations with the Prosperous Armenia and the Enlightened Armenia parliamentary factions. During these consultations we made a decision to hold snap parliamentary elections. Our colleagues said they would have no objections if we amend the electoral code and switch to the absolute proportional system, and this is what we intend to do. They said they will not vote in favor [of this transition], but they will also not vote against," Pashinyan said.

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Armenian parliament lifts martial law imposed over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

According to the current electoral legislation, Armenian lawmakers are being elected via the mixed system - a combination between the proportional and the so-called rating-based system. Parliamentary seats are distributed in proportion with votes, received by political parties. Meanwhile, the voters vote not only for parties, but for individual candidates from party lists as well. In the end, the candidate that secures more votes than his competitors from the same list becomes a lawmaker.

On March 18, Pashinyan announced in the wake of consultations with President Sarkisyan and leaders of the three parliamentary factions that snap parliamentary elections will take place on June 20.

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