Armenia – Shortcomings in the parliamentary elections and the long shadow of the future (original) (raw)
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In post-Soviet countries, the process of democratization is not linear and causes a variety of conflicts. The electoral process and the election institute, as essential elements of electoral political culture, have an important role in political process, especially when the state is transitioning to a parliamentary system of governance, where the quality of internal and external state politics effectiveness mainly depends on the national legislative body. Based on comparative statistical data analysis as well as using behavioral and discourse approaches, the article explores voter turnout in 1991-2018 national elections by revealing its impact on electoral processes as well as peculiarities of elections in Armenia. The findings of conducted research have shown that there was a higher voter turnout during presidential than parliamentary elections and constitutional referendums which is due to more personalized than institutionalized perception of political power. The electoral institute is not sustainable and has a conflict nature in Armenia. To improve the functioning of electoral institute and to restore public confidence in it, it is not necessary to improve only the legislation but to develop the political forces by inclusion of democratic values in public consciousness through political process. In this sense, the evolution of party system based mainly on democratic ideas and not only on personalities is needed. The political process in spring of 2018 in Armenia may create some preconditions ensuring electoral process transparency, taking into account the increase of public confidence among elections as well as the significant decrease in election fraud, and the credibility of early parliamentary election results after the Velvet Revolution. 2018 early parliamentary election can be considered as a step forward to democracy improvement in Armenia.
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