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Armenia. One-Man Constitution Part 2

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  • Armenia. One-Man Constitution Part 2

    ARMENIA. ONE-MAN CONSTITUTION 2

    Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
    Oct 3 2014

    3 October 2014 - 12:26pm

    Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

    The constitutional reforms initiated by the authorities are becoming
    one of the central directions of the internal political life of
    Armenia. The process of discussing constitutional changes started
    a year ago. According to the plans, Armenia should transform from
    a presidential republic into a parliamentary-presidential republic;
    policies will be defined not by the president, but the prime minister,
    whose powers will be broadened. According to some mass media and
    opposition politicians, Serge Sargsyan plans to become the prime
    minister; according to other information which dominates today, the
    President intends to become the speaker and continue to head the RPA.

    Meanwhile, the election programs of the President in 2008 and 2013
    didn't mention that he planned to conduct some constitutional reforms.

    According to some experts, the sudden turn to constitutional changes
    is connected with the end of his presidential term in 2018. Serge
    Sargsyan realizes that the problem of his political future must
    be resolved. The opposition and some observers are sure that the
    upcoming changes are the main weapon for prolonging Sargsyan's power;
    according to the current Constitution, one person has no right to be
    elected president for more than two terms in succession.

    "Serge Sargsyan wants to undertake another adventure in Armenia, trying
    to provide constitutional changes. The goal is clear - to reproduce his
    power in the status of "Secretary General" of the Republican Party,"
    thinks Karen Akopdzhanyan, an observer of Zham.am, calling the changes
    "a one-man constitution."

    "The constitutional amendments are a bluff. Serge Sargsyan is trying
    to mask his intention to maintain power," thinks Aram Manukyan, the
    secretary of the ANC. According to him, if Sargsyan doesn't provide
    constitutional reforms before the next elections, it will lead to
    the collapse of his team. Some experts believe that constitutional
    reforms could become a constraining factor for possible centrifugal
    processes in the authorities' camp ahead of the end of Sargasyan's
    presidential term.

    However, in the process of providing reforms there are two problems.

    The first one is directly connected with the President's team. Serge
    Sargsyan's plan for prolonging his power is unclear and indistinct to
    the representatives of the criminal oligarch system. Probably it would
    be more understandable for them if the project was called "a political
    successor", which was used by former president Robert Kocharyan; it is
    well-known that his political successor is the current president. The
    first president Levon Ter Petrosyan called the attempt at prolonging
    Sargsyan's power by means of constitutional changes a fatal mistake
    which proves that the head of the state is detached from reality.

    The second factor is connected with necessary resources for fulfillment
    of the difficult project chosen by the President. So, before approval
    of these amendments at a referendum, Sargsyan needs the approval
    of the National Assembly. However, the President doesn't have the
    necessary 2/3 of the votes, or more than 80 votes from 131.

    Today the RPA faction has 70 seats, and the gap between it and
    opposition forces is minimal. This will be a serious obstacle for
    fulfillment of the project initiated by the authorities.

    http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/60639.html



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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