Armenia’s president discusses draft constitutional reform with Orinats Yerkir party
27.08.2015,
11:06
Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan discussed yesterday the draft constitutional reform with members of Orinats Yerkir party Mher Shahgeldyan, Hovhannes Margaryan, Ishkhan Khachatryan and Armen Harutiunyan, the press office of the president reported.
YEREVAN, August 27. /ARKA/. Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan discussed yesterday the draft constitutional reform with members of Orinats Yerkir party Mher Shahgeldyan, Hovhannes Margaryan, Ishkhan Khachatryan and Armen Harutiunyan, the press office of the president reported.
The party members presented the respective approaches of “Armenian Revival” public-political alliance initiated by Orinats Yerkir and stressed the importance of active discussions on the matter in the parliament.
On Wednesday the president had discussion on the reform also with members of Dashnaktsutiun and Prosperous Armenia parties.
On August 21, Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan sent the reforms envisaging Armenia’s transition to parliamentary republic to the country’s parliament. Member of the constitutional reform commission Vardan Poghosyan is officially representing the president in the parliament. The head of the state is holding consultations with political parties on the reform approaches this week.
According to the proposed changes, the President of Armenia is elected for a term of seven years (instead of the current five) by the electoral college (the president is elected in a national vote now) consisting of members of parliament and as many elected representatives of local authorities.
According to the document, the president is head of state, embodying national unity and ensuring the observance of the Constitution. He/she cannot be a member of a political party. One person can be elected as president only for one term.
The supreme executive authority is the government that develops and implements the internal and external policies. The government is also vested with power to implement the overall public administration.
The proposed changes oblige the president to appoint a candidate of prime minister of the party or party bloc that wins parliamentary elections. If parliamentary forces are unable to agree on the candidacy of the head of government, the parliament (National Assembly) is to be dissolved.
According to the published document, the armed forces are subordinated to the government, and the prime minister is the supreme commander of the armed forces during the war.
The proposed changes stipulate that parliament members are elected for five years by a proportional system. The unicameral parliament is to consist of at least 101 members (instead of the current 131). This means that 41 single-seat constituencies must be abolished. The new parliament must have representatives of national minorities.
If there is no stable majority in parliament, the changes propose a second round of election that is to involve the two parties with the most votes. A commission member Vardan Poghosyan told a news conference earlier this month that this controversial provision may be removed from the draft. –0--
The party members presented the respective approaches of “Armenian Revival” public-political alliance initiated by Orinats Yerkir and stressed the importance of active discussions on the matter in the parliament.
On Wednesday the president had discussion on the reform also with members of Dashnaktsutiun and Prosperous Armenia parties.
On August 21, Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan sent the reforms envisaging Armenia’s transition to parliamentary republic to the country’s parliament. Member of the constitutional reform commission Vardan Poghosyan is officially representing the president in the parliament. The head of the state is holding consultations with political parties on the reform approaches this week.
According to the proposed changes, the President of Armenia is elected for a term of seven years (instead of the current five) by the electoral college (the president is elected in a national vote now) consisting of members of parliament and as many elected representatives of local authorities.
According to the document, the president is head of state, embodying national unity and ensuring the observance of the Constitution. He/she cannot be a member of a political party. One person can be elected as president only for one term.
The supreme executive authority is the government that develops and implements the internal and external policies. The government is also vested with power to implement the overall public administration.
The proposed changes oblige the president to appoint a candidate of prime minister of the party or party bloc that wins parliamentary elections. If parliamentary forces are unable to agree on the candidacy of the head of government, the parliament (National Assembly) is to be dissolved.
According to the published document, the armed forces are subordinated to the government, and the prime minister is the supreme commander of the armed forces during the war.
The proposed changes stipulate that parliament members are elected for five years by a proportional system. The unicameral parliament is to consist of at least 101 members (instead of the current 131). This means that 41 single-seat constituencies must be abolished. The new parliament must have representatives of national minorities.
If there is no stable majority in parliament, the changes propose a second round of election that is to involve the two parties with the most votes. A commission member Vardan Poghosyan told a news conference earlier this month that this controversial provision may be removed from the draft. –0--
