Armenian constitutional reforms to be put on referendum
05.03.2015,
17:48
The authorities will put a package of constitutional reforms that would transform Armenia into a parliamentary republic on a referendum, parliament speaker Galust Sahakyan said on Thursday, according to RFE/RL's Armenian Service.
YEREVAN, March 5. / ARKA /. The authorities will put a package of constitutional reforms that would transform Armenia into a parliamentary republic on a referendum, parliament speaker Galust Sahakyan said on Thursday, according to RFE/RL's Armenian Service.
"I think that draft amendments will be ready in the autumn, but I can not exactly say when the referendum may be held – in 2016 spring or autumn. This will happen after the draft amendments go through public debates and be ready for submitting to the parliament,' he said.
“The concept is under public discussion,” Sahakyan told reporters. “Not only Republicans but also all other political forces and civic structures can discuss it.”
“As for the [amended] constitution itself, I think it will be published very soon,” he said. “It will naturally be put on a referendum.”
The amendments are to stem from a reform “concept” that was put forward in October last year by an ad hoc presidential commission.
The concept was described by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission as a good basis for drafting specific proposals for constitutional reforms, enabling to strengthen democratic values and create conditions necessary for ensuring rule of law and respect for human rights in Armenia.-0-
