Armenian prime minister and parliament speaker discuss ‘transitional’ justice and snap parliamentary elections
27.08.2018,
16:28
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting today with parliament speaker Ara Babloyan to discuss the political situation in the country, the parliament press service reported, recalling that the idea had been voiced earlier by Babloyan.
YEREVAN, August 27. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting today with parliament speaker Ara Babloyan to discuss the political situation in the country, the parliament press service reported, recalling that the idea had been voiced earlier by Babloyan.
The parliament press office said that during the meeting Babloyan and Pashinyan stated that any person in the country has the right to freedom of speech and alternative opinion regardless of political views. They were said to have stated that independence of courts is the most important guarantee of ensuring justice, therefore, the mechanism of checks and balances s should in no way be violated.
The two men were also said to have underlined that in the implementation of justice, the tools of the judicial system did not fully exhaust themselves. Nevertheless, if, as a result of political discussions, the parties decide that there is a need for “transitional justice", this should be done by changing the Constitution and the relevant legislation without causing any harm to justice.
On August 17, speaking at a rally in Yerevan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pointed to the lack of confidence of the public in the judiciary saying there is the need to establish "transitional justice" bodies. He said he declined the vicious practice of ordering judges what kind of rulings to issue, but "this does not mean that some judges should receive orders from representatives of previous corrupt authorities."
Pashinyan and Babloyan also recorded that, in accordance with the government's program approved by the parliament on June 7 this year, extraordinary parliamentary elections should be held within one year. In case of holding an extraordinary parliamentary election by changing the Constitution, the referendum institution, among other mechanisms, can become the most democratic, since the Constitution subject to change was adopted through a referendum.
"Nevertheless, the choice of any option on this issue should be based on the results of broad public and political discussions," the parliament press office said. -0-
The parliament press office said that during the meeting Babloyan and Pashinyan stated that any person in the country has the right to freedom of speech and alternative opinion regardless of political views. They were said to have stated that independence of courts is the most important guarantee of ensuring justice, therefore, the mechanism of checks and balances s should in no way be violated.
The two men were also said to have underlined that in the implementation of justice, the tools of the judicial system did not fully exhaust themselves. Nevertheless, if, as a result of political discussions, the parties decide that there is a need for “transitional justice", this should be done by changing the Constitution and the relevant legislation without causing any harm to justice.
On August 17, speaking at a rally in Yerevan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pointed to the lack of confidence of the public in the judiciary saying there is the need to establish "transitional justice" bodies. He said he declined the vicious practice of ordering judges what kind of rulings to issue, but "this does not mean that some judges should receive orders from representatives of previous corrupt authorities."
Pashinyan and Babloyan also recorded that, in accordance with the government's program approved by the parliament on June 7 this year, extraordinary parliamentary elections should be held within one year. In case of holding an extraordinary parliamentary election by changing the Constitution, the referendum institution, among other mechanisms, can become the most democratic, since the Constitution subject to change was adopted through a referendum.
"Nevertheless, the choice of any option on this issue should be based on the results of broad public and political discussions," the parliament press office said. -0-
