Armenian communities allowed to hold consolidation referenda
19.12.2019,
14:32
Armenia's National Assembly has approved today in the second and final reading a set of amendments to the law on local referendum, which will allow communities to hold consolidation referenda.
YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. Armenia's National Assembly has approved today in the second and final reading a set of amendments to the law on local referendum, which will allow communities to hold consolidation referenda.
The changes had been originated by MPs from the ruling My Step faction. According to one of them, Varazdat Karapetyan, the government supports the consolidation of communities in order to expand the list of services provided to their residents and also wants to give the people the opportunity to speak out about whether they want to consolidate with other communities or not.
Before being put to the second reading the draft law was amended. In particular, a paragraph has been added saying that referendum is considered valid if at least 50% of the community residents participate in it.
Under another change, the head of the community is given the opportunity to hold open discussions on the consolidation and attach the result of these discussions to the draft decision.
Under the bill, as soon as the government notifies the communities that it wants them to consolidate, the heads of the communities will inform the residents about this, and a group of five residents from each community will have the right to come out with referendum initiative.
After that, they will receive signature collection forms and will ask the heads of the communities to finance the referenda. The latter are to ask the local electoral commission and the police to estimate approximately how much the referendums would cost and then discusses this issue with the Councils of Elders. If they decide to finance the referendums then the collection of signatures continues.
Signature collection will continue for 30 days, after which a local referendum is called, the results of which are submitted to the government.
The final decision of the government regarding consolidation of communities may not coincide with the opinion expressed in the referendum, however, residents should be able to convey their position to the parliament and government. -0-
The changes had been originated by MPs from the ruling My Step faction. According to one of them, Varazdat Karapetyan, the government supports the consolidation of communities in order to expand the list of services provided to their residents and also wants to give the people the opportunity to speak out about whether they want to consolidate with other communities or not.
Before being put to the second reading the draft law was amended. In particular, a paragraph has been added saying that referendum is considered valid if at least 50% of the community residents participate in it.
Under another change, the head of the community is given the opportunity to hold open discussions on the consolidation and attach the result of these discussions to the draft decision.
Under the bill, as soon as the government notifies the communities that it wants them to consolidate, the heads of the communities will inform the residents about this, and a group of five residents from each community will have the right to come out with referendum initiative.
After that, they will receive signature collection forms and will ask the heads of the communities to finance the referenda. The latter are to ask the local electoral commission and the police to estimate approximately how much the referendums would cost and then discusses this issue with the Councils of Elders. If they decide to finance the referendums then the collection of signatures continues.
Signature collection will continue for 30 days, after which a local referendum is called, the results of which are submitted to the government.
The final decision of the government regarding consolidation of communities may not coincide with the opinion expressed in the referendum, however, residents should be able to convey their position to the parliament and government. -0-
