New constitutional amendments in Armenia soon?
No text is perfect in the world except for the Bible, and amendments are always needed, David Harutyunyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, Parliament of Armenia, told Tert.am, as he answered a question as to whether the US Constitution is a guideline for Armenia’s authorities.
He does not rule out constitutional amendments to remove shortcomings. However, Harutyunyan did not elaborate on the matter.
In 2005, a constitutional referendum was held in Armenia, which approved amendments to independent Armenia’s Constitution adopted back in 1995.
Hrant Bagratyan, a member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary group, disagrees. “Well, we are sick and tired of these know-alls. ‘Except for the Bible -’ Let the Bible and the Constitution alone.” It is not the Constitution that is responsible for the lawlessness in the country. “The Constitution does not say anyone passing by Harsnaqar [Yerevan’s notoriously known restaurant] must be beaten up, does it? Or that the prime minister’s name must necessarily be Tigran Sargsyan.”
Artak Zeinalyan, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary faction, has mixed feelings about the issue. Armenia needs constitutional amendments, which, first of all, requires a necessary moral and psychological atmosphere and common political interests - forces shaping the public opinion, which is the most important. “Theoretically, constitutional amendments may give impetus to it. And it is true that no text is perfect,” Zeynalyan said.
Numerous sections need amending. Zeinalyan cited the example of constitutional law. “That laws be adopted on by more votes,” he said. Much has lately been said of the need for a parliamentary government in Armenia. Even Armen Rustamyan, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D), who stressed the need for a joint candidate from the opposition in the 2013 presidential election, noted that the candidate is supposed to be a staunch supporter of transition to a parliamentary government.
Zeinalyan is personally for a parliamentary government. “I think a parliamentary government is the most effective system. It implies simultaneous formation of the Executive and Legislature. But I think it is too early to speak of it. “I do not think such radical changes are possible by means of constitutional amendments. We could think of stage-by-stage changes – first of all changes acceptable to all. Then we can speak of forming an atmosphere of mutual confidence and discuss further developments,” Zeinalyan said.
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