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CHANGING THE RULES: COMMISSION LOOKS TO ALTER REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY
Politics | 11.10.13 | 15:50
Photo: www.president.am
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
State authorities in Armenia confirm the news that the Commission
on Constitutional Amendments, created upon a presidential order,
will be discussing the change of eligibility requirements to run for
presidency. The possible change of the respective provision in the
Constitution has given ground for assumptions that the authorities
are trying to adjust the acting legislation to the next candidate
for the office.
Article 50 of the Constitution of Armenia regulating the electoral
qualifications for presidential candidates says anyone over 35 years
old, having permanently resided in Armenia as its citizen for the
past ten years and having the right to vote can run for presidency
in Armenia. But, a few days ago the chief of presidential staff sent
a package to the Commission suggesting that the 10-year requirement
of being a citizen and permanent residency be reduced.
Media are speculating that the proposed amending of process would
enable the current administration to more easily influence a
successor. One radical opposition daily is saying that the effort
to change the law is to accommodate the candidacy of Armen Sargsyan,
who was recently named Ambassador to the UK.
Meanwhile commission member David Harutyunyan, chairing the NA Standing
Committee on State-Legal Affairs, counters that the submission of
the package with suggestions has no political subtext.
He says the package includes the summary of suggestions made by Venice
Commission's suggestions (made in 2011) on amendments to the Election
Code and those by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).
Among its 30 suggestions in the Recommendations chapter of the 2013
post-election report ODIHR, indeed, pointed out the 10-year citizenship
and residency electoral qualification as "rigid and needing to change".
It is noteworthy that Heritage leader Raffi Hovanissian, Armenia's
first foreign minister, only this year was granted the right to take
part in the presidential race for the first time because of that
very 10-year citizenship requirement. As for second president Robert
Kocharyan, who is from Karabakh, his critics have always stressed
the fact that he ran for the office without the notice on his 10-year
citizenship, violating the mother law of Armenia.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/49151/armenia_constitution_amendments_presidental_electi ons
From: Baghdasarian
Politics | 11.10.13 | 15:50
Photo: www.president.am
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
State authorities in Armenia confirm the news that the Commission
on Constitutional Amendments, created upon a presidential order,
will be discussing the change of eligibility requirements to run for
presidency. The possible change of the respective provision in the
Constitution has given ground for assumptions that the authorities
are trying to adjust the acting legislation to the next candidate
for the office.
Article 50 of the Constitution of Armenia regulating the electoral
qualifications for presidential candidates says anyone over 35 years
old, having permanently resided in Armenia as its citizen for the
past ten years and having the right to vote can run for presidency
in Armenia. But, a few days ago the chief of presidential staff sent
a package to the Commission suggesting that the 10-year requirement
of being a citizen and permanent residency be reduced.
Media are speculating that the proposed amending of process would
enable the current administration to more easily influence a
successor. One radical opposition daily is saying that the effort
to change the law is to accommodate the candidacy of Armen Sargsyan,
who was recently named Ambassador to the UK.
Meanwhile commission member David Harutyunyan, chairing the NA Standing
Committee on State-Legal Affairs, counters that the submission of
the package with suggestions has no political subtext.
He says the package includes the summary of suggestions made by Venice
Commission's suggestions (made in 2011) on amendments to the Election
Code and those by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).
Among its 30 suggestions in the Recommendations chapter of the 2013
post-election report ODIHR, indeed, pointed out the 10-year citizenship
and residency electoral qualification as "rigid and needing to change".
It is noteworthy that Heritage leader Raffi Hovanissian, Armenia's
first foreign minister, only this year was granted the right to take
part in the presidential race for the first time because of that
very 10-year citizenship requirement. As for second president Robert
Kocharyan, who is from Karabakh, his critics have always stressed
the fact that he ran for the office without the notice on his 10-year
citizenship, violating the mother law of Armenia.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/49151/armenia_constitution_amendments_presidental_electi ons
From: Baghdasarian