Armenia’s ex-president criticizes proposed constitutional changes
18.11.2015,
15:30
Armenia’s ex-president Robert Kocharyan slammed a package of constitutional reforms, drafted and advocated by the Ruling Republican Party of Armenia.
YEREVAN, November 18. /ARKA/. Armenia’s ex-president Robert Kocharyan slammed a package of constitutional reforms, drafted and advocated by the Ruling Republican Party of Armenia, which call for transition from the semi-presidential republic to parliamentary form of government, saying the proposed changes would further centralize the power in the hands of one party.
In an interview with Germany’s state-run international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, published on Wednesday, Kocharyan said the authorities’ motivation is that the power now is centralized in the president and that the constitutional reform would decentralize it. ‘But what they have drafted is not decentralization, it is the centralization of the power within a single party,’ he argued.
According to him, the proposed changes fix that after parliamentary election one party must have majority, a premise that ‘emasculates’ the essence of parliamentary form of government.
‘The advantage of a parliamentary republic is that not one but many parties can be represented in the parliament, which can negotiate to find compromises on the most topical issues.
"Armenia, as a semi-presidential republic is more functional. “The thing is that a constitution is being created under which the majority of one party will be guaranteed constitutionally,” Kocharyan said. “This is something that has not been applied before, at least in counties with advanced democracies.” According to him, this premise consist very big risks.
"I have a feeling that there is an attempt to create a new guiding force. Our own experience shows quite well where it leads to,” he said,
The proposed changes will be put to a referendum scheduled to take place on December 6.-0-
In an interview with Germany’s state-run international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, published on Wednesday, Kocharyan said the authorities’ motivation is that the power now is centralized in the president and that the constitutional reform would decentralize it. ‘But what they have drafted is not decentralization, it is the centralization of the power within a single party,’ he argued.
According to him, the proposed changes fix that after parliamentary election one party must have majority, a premise that ‘emasculates’ the essence of parliamentary form of government.
‘The advantage of a parliamentary republic is that not one but many parties can be represented in the parliament, which can negotiate to find compromises on the most topical issues.
"Armenia, as a semi-presidential republic is more functional. “The thing is that a constitution is being created under which the majority of one party will be guaranteed constitutionally,” Kocharyan said. “This is something that has not been applied before, at least in counties with advanced democracies.” According to him, this premise consist very big risks.
"I have a feeling that there is an attempt to create a new guiding force. Our own experience shows quite well where it leads to,” he said,
The proposed changes will be put to a referendum scheduled to take place on December 6.-0-
