Armenian parliament speaker signs amendments to law on Constitutional Court
22.07.2020,
12:34
Armenian National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan signed today the amendments adopted by the parliament on June 30 to the law on the Constitutional Court.
YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. Armenian National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan signed today the amendments adopted by the parliament on June 30 to the law on the Constitutional Court.
Mirzoyan wrote on his Facebook page that now the law should be published, and from that moment it will come into force.
President's refusal and his proposal
On June 30, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian told Mirzoyan that he would not sign the amendments and additions to the law. This meant that legally the authority to do this went to the National Assembly Speaker.
A week later, on July 7, during a meeting with members of the professional commission on constitutional reforms, the president announced the need to start public discussions on constitutional changes as soon as possible.
The essence of the changes
The amendments change the procedure for nominating candidates for the vacant position of judge of the Constitutional Court by the relevant authorities. So, first, candidates will be proposed by the government, then by the president, and then by the Council of Judges.
Also, the amendments to the law fix the mechanism for assigning pensions to members and judges of the Constitutional Court whose powers were terminated by the latest constitutional changes (passed by the parliament on June 22).
Constitutional changes
On June 22, the National Assembly of Armenia passed the draft amendments to the Constitution, which implied termination of the powers of the chairman of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan and retirement of those members of the Constitutional Court who have been in office for more than 12 years in total - they are Hrant Nazaryan, Felix Tokhyan and Alvina Gyulumyan. The rest of the judges will continue to work until the expiration of this period.
The new head of the Constitutional Court should be elected for a 6-year term after filling the vacancies of judges formed after these changes .-- 0—
Mirzoyan wrote on his Facebook page that now the law should be published, and from that moment it will come into force.
President's refusal and his proposal
On June 30, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian told Mirzoyan that he would not sign the amendments and additions to the law. This meant that legally the authority to do this went to the National Assembly Speaker.
A week later, on July 7, during a meeting with members of the professional commission on constitutional reforms, the president announced the need to start public discussions on constitutional changes as soon as possible.
The essence of the changes
The amendments change the procedure for nominating candidates for the vacant position of judge of the Constitutional Court by the relevant authorities. So, first, candidates will be proposed by the government, then by the president, and then by the Council of Judges.
Also, the amendments to the law fix the mechanism for assigning pensions to members and judges of the Constitutional Court whose powers were terminated by the latest constitutional changes (passed by the parliament on June 22).
Constitutional changes
On June 22, the National Assembly of Armenia passed the draft amendments to the Constitution, which implied termination of the powers of the chairman of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan and retirement of those members of the Constitutional Court who have been in office for more than 12 years in total - they are Hrant Nazaryan, Felix Tokhyan and Alvina Gyulumyan. The rest of the judges will continue to work until the expiration of this period.
The new head of the Constitutional Court should be elected for a 6-year term after filling the vacancies of judges formed after these changes .-- 0—
