Constitutional crisis in Armenia is over – premier
17.09.2020,
10:30
The constitutional crisis in Armenia is over, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Wednesday at a Q&A hour in the National Assembly. One day before, the National Assembly elected by secret ballot Edgar Shatiryan, Artur Vagharshyan and Yervand Khundkaryan as new judges of the Constitutional Court. Opposition factions have refused to take part in elections, which they say are contrary to the law and constitutional provisions.
YEREVAN, September 17. /ARKA/. The constitutional crisis in Armenia is over, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Wednesday at a Q&A hour in the National Assembly. One day before, the National Assembly elected by secret ballot Edgar Shatiryan, Artur Vagharshyan and Yervand Khundkaryan as new judges of the Constitutional Court. Opposition factions have refused to take part in elections, which they say are contrary to the law and constitutional provisions.
"It is necessary to record that something important has happened. Does this mean that an ideal Constitutional Court has formed? No, it does not mean," he said.
Pashinyan indicated that since the government’s first nominee refused to seek membership in the Constitutional Court, the second candidate was nominated taking into account the opinion of the parliamentary forces.
Controversial Law
On July 22, 2020, Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan signed the law adopted by the parliament on June 30 on amendments to the law on the Constitutional Court.
On June 30, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian told Mirzoyan that he would not sign the law on amendments and additions to the law "On the Constitutional Court." Therefore, the authority to sign the amendments, according to the legislation, passed to the National Assembly Speaker.
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.
Essence of Changes
On June 30, the Armenian parliament adopted amendments to the law on the Constitutional Court, which changed the procedure for nominating candidates for the vacant position of judge of the Constitutional Court by the relevant bodies. So, first, candidates are proposed by the government, then by the president, and then by the Council of Judges.
The mechanism for assigning pensions to members and judges of the Constitutional Court whose powers were terminated due to the latest constitutional changes (adopted by the parliament on June 22) is also being fixed.
The latest changes have limited the existing mechanisms of the new model for the formation of the Constitutional Court. Thus, according to the new edition of Article 213 of the Constitution, the powers of Hrayr Tovmasyan as chairman of the Constitutional Court and those judges of the Constitutional Court who have been in office for over 12 years in total - these are Hrant Nazaryan, Felix Tokhyan and Alvina Gyulumyan, are terminated. The rest of the judges 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 created after these changes. --0--
"It is necessary to record that something important has happened. Does this mean that an ideal Constitutional Court has formed? No, it does not mean," he said.
Pashinyan indicated that since the government’s first nominee refused to seek membership in the Constitutional Court, the second candidate was nominated taking into account the opinion of the parliamentary forces.
Controversial Law
On July 22, 2020, Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan signed the law adopted by the parliament on June 30 on amendments to the law on the Constitutional Court.
On June 30, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian told Mirzoyan that he would not sign the law on amendments and additions to the law "On the Constitutional Court." Therefore, the authority to sign the amendments, according to the legislation, passed to the National Assembly Speaker.
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.
Essence of Changes
On June 30, the Armenian parliament adopted amendments to the law on the Constitutional Court, which changed the procedure for nominating candidates for the vacant position of judge of the Constitutional Court by the relevant bodies. So, first, candidates are proposed by the government, then by the president, and then by the Council of Judges.
The mechanism for assigning pensions to members and judges of the Constitutional Court whose powers were terminated due to the latest constitutional changes (adopted by the parliament on June 22) is also being fixed.
The latest changes have limited the existing mechanisms of the new model for the formation of the Constitutional Court. Thus, according to the new edition of Article 213 of the Constitution, the powers of Hrayr Tovmasyan as chairman of the Constitutional Court and those judges of the Constitutional Court who have been in office for over 12 years in total - these are Hrant Nazaryan, Felix Tokhyan and Alvina Gyulumyan, are terminated. The rest of the judges 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 created after these changes. --0--
