Armenian communities may hold referenda on consolidation
06.12.2019,
16:36
Armenia's National Assembly has approved today in the first reading a set of amendments to the law on local referendum, which, if they go through the parliament in the second and final reading, will allow communities to hold referendums on consolidation with other communities.
YEREVAN, December 6. /ARKA/. Armenia's National Assembly has approved today in the first reading a set of amendments to the law on local referendum, which, if they go through the parliament in the second and final reading, will allow communities to hold referendums on consolidation with other communities.
The changes had been originated by MPs from the ruling My Step faction. One of them, Varazdat Karapetyan, said the government supports the consolidation of communities in order to expand the list of services provided to their residents.
He said also the government wants to give the people the opportunity to speak out about whether they want to consolidate with other communities or not.
According to the deputy, 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,” the parliamentarian said.
Signature collection will continue for 30 days, after which a local referendum is called, the results of which are submitted to the government.
Karapetyan said the final decision of the government regarding consolidation of communities may not coincide with the opinion expressed in the referendum, however, according to the deputy, 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. One of them, Varazdat Karapetyan, said the government supports the consolidation of communities in order to expand the list of services provided to their residents.
He said also the government wants to give the people the opportunity to speak out about whether they want to consolidate with other communities or not.
According to the deputy, 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,” the parliamentarian said.
Signature collection will continue for 30 days, after which a local referendum is called, the results of which are submitted to the government.
Karapetyan said the final decision of the government regarding consolidation of communities may not coincide with the opinion expressed in the referendum, however, according to the deputy, residents should be able to convey their position to the parliament and government. -0-
