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PROS AND CONS - ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT FACTIONS' VISIONS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
YEREVAN, September 16. /ARKA/. A constitutional reform is being
currently elaborated in Armenia. The final document is not ready
yet; even then it has already given rise to heated discussions,
particularly on transfer to parliamentary system. All six parliament
factions presented their vision for the reform at a briefing on Friday.
Background: Under a decree of the Armenian president of September 4,
2013, a professional commission was set up to develop a constitutional
reform.
The president is expected to sign the reform concept in October. The
draft reform package should be submitted within ten months after the
concept is approved by the president.
Armenia's president Serzh Sargsyan made a statement saying he would
not run for president anymore. He also said he would not run for
premier's office either if the parliamentary system is picked.
According to Sargsyan, the current system is most acceptable for
Armenia in this stage.
Off-power coalition - There is no constitutional crisis today Head
of Heritage faction Ruben Hakobyan said on Friday the constitutional
reform is a priority to the Armenian authorities.
"In fact, there is no constitutional crisis leading to need for such
hasty changes, but there is a political crisis the leadership wants to
divert population's attention from through a constitutional reform",
Hakobyan said Hakobyan expressed hope the four off-power parties will
reach consensus on the reform issue.
Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun
faction Aghvan Vardanyan said the current constitution provides room
for reproduction of power, hence reforms are needed to prevent it
in the future and to reduce personal factors that influence decision
making.
Head of the Armenian National Congress faction Levon Zurabyan refrained
to comment on the upcoming reform and said his party's position is
well known.
"I want to mention only that the authorities will not be able to sow
discord within the off-power coalition using disagreements on the
constitutional reform", Zurabyan said.
Member of Prosperous Armenia party Vahe Hovhannisyan said the changes
proposed do not fill in the gaps in the current constitution and
reminded that the authorities were against the parliamentary system
at the time.
Under the current "neither peace, nor war" conditions it is necessary
to maintain the presidential or semi-presidential governance to ensure
prompt and efficient response if a military conflict is unleashed,
Hovhannisyan said. Yet, he said, the party refrains from detailed
comments before the proposed changes are clear.
Cautious approach preferred Head of Orinats Yerkir faction Heghine
Bisharyan, in her turn, said the faction is not rushing into comments
on the upcoming reform.
"We are not familiar with the content of the reform and wait for
discussions to give our conclusion afterwards", she said.
The faction members believe the constitutional reform discussions are
premature due to other more serious pending problems in the country.
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http://arka.am/en/news/politics/pros_and_cons_armenian_parliament_factions_visions _for_constitutional_reform/#sthash.kvfuNeJv.dpuf
YEREVAN, September 16. /ARKA/. A constitutional reform is being
currently elaborated in Armenia. The final document is not ready
yet; even then it has already given rise to heated discussions,
particularly on transfer to parliamentary system. All six parliament
factions presented their vision for the reform at a briefing on Friday.
Background: Under a decree of the Armenian president of September 4,
2013, a professional commission was set up to develop a constitutional
reform.
The president is expected to sign the reform concept in October. The
draft reform package should be submitted within ten months after the
concept is approved by the president.
Armenia's president Serzh Sargsyan made a statement saying he would
not run for president anymore. He also said he would not run for
premier's office either if the parliamentary system is picked.
According to Sargsyan, the current system is most acceptable for
Armenia in this stage.
Off-power coalition - There is no constitutional crisis today Head
of Heritage faction Ruben Hakobyan said on Friday the constitutional
reform is a priority to the Armenian authorities.
"In fact, there is no constitutional crisis leading to need for such
hasty changes, but there is a political crisis the leadership wants to
divert population's attention from through a constitutional reform",
Hakobyan said Hakobyan expressed hope the four off-power parties will
reach consensus on the reform issue.
Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun
faction Aghvan Vardanyan said the current constitution provides room
for reproduction of power, hence reforms are needed to prevent it
in the future and to reduce personal factors that influence decision
making.
Head of the Armenian National Congress faction Levon Zurabyan refrained
to comment on the upcoming reform and said his party's position is
well known.
"I want to mention only that the authorities will not be able to sow
discord within the off-power coalition using disagreements on the
constitutional reform", Zurabyan said.
Member of Prosperous Armenia party Vahe Hovhannisyan said the changes
proposed do not fill in the gaps in the current constitution and
reminded that the authorities were against the parliamentary system
at the time.
Under the current "neither peace, nor war" conditions it is necessary
to maintain the presidential or semi-presidential governance to ensure
prompt and efficient response if a military conflict is unleashed,
Hovhannisyan said. Yet, he said, the party refrains from detailed
comments before the proposed changes are clear.
Cautious approach preferred Head of Orinats Yerkir faction Heghine
Bisharyan, in her turn, said the faction is not rushing into comments
on the upcoming reform.
"We are not familiar with the content of the reform and wait for
discussions to give our conclusion afterwards", she said.
The faction members believe the constitutional reform discussions are
premature due to other more serious pending problems in the country.
--0--
http://arka.am/en/news/politics/pros_and_cons_armenian_parliament_factions_visions _for_constitutional_reform/#sthash.kvfuNeJv.dpuf