Armenia’s transition to parliamentary republic: revised text of proposed constitutional reforms unveiled
15.07.2015,
20:45
A panel of experts assigned to work out a string of constitutional reforms to secure Armenia’s transition to a parliamentary republic has unveiled today the revised draft text of the first seven chapters of the Constitution.
YEREVAN, July 15. / ARKA /. A panel of experts assigned to work out a string of constitutional reforms to secure Armenia’s transition to a parliamentary republic has unveiled today the revised draft text of the first seven chapters of the Constitution.
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 assembly (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 can not 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). 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.
The text of the first seven chapters was finalized following discussions with experts from the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe).
The text is published on the official website of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia for public debate.
Proposals may be sent to the secretariat of the professional committee to the following email address: handznajoghovi-qartugharutyun@moj.am. -- 0--
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 assembly (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 can not 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). 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.
The text of the first seven chapters was finalized following discussions with experts from the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe).
The text is published on the official website of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia for public debate.
Proposals may be sent to the secretariat of the professional committee to the following email address: handznajoghovi-qartugharutyun@moj.am. -- 0--
