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PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN: DISCUSSIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM UNDERWAY
POLITICS | 12.03.15 | 10:51
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/61362/armenia_constitutional_reform_discussions_presiden t_sargsyan
Photolure
President Serzh Sargsyan holding his right hand on the Republic of
Armenia Constitution and a Bible during his inauguration for the
second term on April 9, 2013.
RELATED NEWS
Changing Basic Law: Armenian leadership reaffirms plans for
constitutional reform
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan continues to have meetings with
representatives of the country's political forces regarding the
planned constitutional reform, his spokesman told Tert.am on Wednesday.
"A new series of active discussions around the constitutional reform
will begin tomorrow [March 12]," said Arman Saghatelyan. "Information
regarding these discussions will be provided additionally."
The constitutional reform concept calling for turning Armenia into
a parliamentary republic with a powerful prime minister and largely
ceremonial president was first unveiled in 2014. The Council of
Europe's Venice Commission gave a generally positive assessment, saying
that the proposed changes would "strengthen democratic principles and
establish the necessary conditions for ensuring the rule of law and
respect for human rights." At the same time, the commission noted that
the transition to a parliamentary republic requires "broad consensus
within society."
Most opposition forces in Armenia, including the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) led by tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan, questioned the need
for reforming the Basic Law, alleging that by the changes Sargsyan,
whose second and final presidential term ends in 2018, and his ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) are seeking to "perpetuate" their
power. The current head of state, however, has repeatedly pledged not
to seek a top government post after the end of his term in office if
the reform is carried out.
Amid protests staged by three opposition parties, including the PAP,
that raised more issues than just the constitutional reform President
Sargsyan late last year said he would take the final decision on the
constitutional reform concept in February-March 2015. RPA spokesman
Eduard Sharmazanov confirmed last week that the decision would be
presented to the public by the end of March.
The planned constitutional reform appeared to be the catalyst for
the dramatic showdown in February in which President Sargsyan and his
ruling RPA forced Tsarukyan to resign as PAP leader and quit politics.
It is yet unclear whether the PAP, many of whose members have been
renouncing their membership after Tsarukyan's departure, will continue
to strongly oppose the current administration on the constitutional
reform issue.
At least one parliamentary minority party, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, has, in principle, backed the idea of turning Armenia into
a parliamentary republic through the change of the Constitution. The
other three minority factions in the Armenian parliament, including
the Armenian National Congress, Heritage and Orinats Yerkir, are
known to oppose the reform at least at this stage.
Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan, a senior member of the RPA, said
earlier this month that draft amendments to the Armenian Constitution
are likely to be put on a referendum as soon as next fall or in
early 2016.
POLITICS | 12.03.15 | 10:51
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/61362/armenia_constitutional_reform_discussions_presiden t_sargsyan
Photolure
President Serzh Sargsyan holding his right hand on the Republic of
Armenia Constitution and a Bible during his inauguration for the
second term on April 9, 2013.
RELATED NEWS
Changing Basic Law: Armenian leadership reaffirms plans for
constitutional reform
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan continues to have meetings with
representatives of the country's political forces regarding the
planned constitutional reform, his spokesman told Tert.am on Wednesday.
"A new series of active discussions around the constitutional reform
will begin tomorrow [March 12]," said Arman Saghatelyan. "Information
regarding these discussions will be provided additionally."
The constitutional reform concept calling for turning Armenia into
a parliamentary republic with a powerful prime minister and largely
ceremonial president was first unveiled in 2014. The Council of
Europe's Venice Commission gave a generally positive assessment, saying
that the proposed changes would "strengthen democratic principles and
establish the necessary conditions for ensuring the rule of law and
respect for human rights." At the same time, the commission noted that
the transition to a parliamentary republic requires "broad consensus
within society."
Most opposition forces in Armenia, including the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) led by tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan, questioned the need
for reforming the Basic Law, alleging that by the changes Sargsyan,
whose second and final presidential term ends in 2018, and his ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) are seeking to "perpetuate" their
power. The current head of state, however, has repeatedly pledged not
to seek a top government post after the end of his term in office if
the reform is carried out.
Amid protests staged by three opposition parties, including the PAP,
that raised more issues than just the constitutional reform President
Sargsyan late last year said he would take the final decision on the
constitutional reform concept in February-March 2015. RPA spokesman
Eduard Sharmazanov confirmed last week that the decision would be
presented to the public by the end of March.
The planned constitutional reform appeared to be the catalyst for
the dramatic showdown in February in which President Sargsyan and his
ruling RPA forced Tsarukyan to resign as PAP leader and quit politics.
It is yet unclear whether the PAP, many of whose members have been
renouncing their membership after Tsarukyan's departure, will continue
to strongly oppose the current administration on the constitutional
reform issue.
At least one parliamentary minority party, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, has, in principle, backed the idea of turning Armenia into
a parliamentary republic through the change of the Constitution. The
other three minority factions in the Armenian parliament, including
the Armenian National Congress, Heritage and Orinats Yerkir, are
known to oppose the reform at least at this stage.
Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan, a senior member of the RPA, said
earlier this month that draft amendments to the Armenian Constitution
are likely to be put on a referendum as soon as next fall or in
early 2016.