Constitutional reforms top priority for Armenia – parliament official
“We should see this process within the context of developments in the course of years,” Artak Zakaryan (Republican parliamentary faction) said.
Commenting on the proposals by the Venice Commission, the parliament official said he thinks that they can be treated as just one of the existing options. Zakaryan noted that the published draft has helped raise my rights to the level of law.
Mr Zakaryan, the seven basic chapters of the constitutional reforms have already been introduced. So what evaluations do you have?
The process of the constitutional reforms is going to be the number one public process in the near future - in terms of both political debates and the involvement and participation of wide circles of the society. We, the public and the political figures, must first of all be able to make those debates accessible to all the groups of the society, as the published draft has helped raise many rights to the level of law. And that means that all our citizens must demonstrate an interested approach in the process of adopting changes in the country’s basic law. I believe it will solidify referendum’s role, ensuring a public trust and participation in the new constitutional reforms. The draft lays out not only the bases of changing the government model, strengthening the foundations of parliamentarism, distributing and clarifying the mechanisms of checks and balances between the government and the opposition but also, as I mentioned, clear wordings of rights and obligations. I don’t think, of course, that the draft submitted is dogmatic, as different other proposals may be raised in the course of the discussions, but the adoption of the proposed fundamental clauses and their purose-oriented implementation can contribute to an effective governance, the strengthening of democratic rights, the accomplishment of the party system, the full-fledged exercise of different civil rights etc.
The Venice Commission has published its preliminary report on the amendments to Chapters 1-7 and 10 of Armenia’s Constitution. So what do you think of the proposals for changing several provisions? What is your opinion on the proposed changes?
The proposals by the Venice Commission will be addressed in the course of active debates, but it all has to do with the approaches of the political forces and the society. Those proposals may have an impact on the final version - as a result of the discussion - but the proposals made in the draft pursue a specific target; they aren’t there just for nothing. What was proposed is, in my opinion, a combined version of different countries’ experience, so I don’t think focusing on a specific model would be right, considering the realities and the political system in Armenia. All the proposals, including those of the Venice Commission, have to be discussed in detail. The Venice Commission proposals contain provisions to which I agree, but there are also others I have my disagreement with.
The submitted draft proposed systemic reforms, particularly in the government model. How do estimate those chances and to what extent do you think such a form of government – the transition from the semi-presidential to the parliamentary model – is in line with our country’s standards?
Notably, nobody can justify the point that the existing form of government is imperfect and has failed to meet the expected target. In my opinion though, public relations and the political life are constantly in a process of a dynamic development. So the oncoming constitutional reforms may be in line with the requirements of the future political life and public relations. Of course, at the current stage, we must listen to all the opinions voiced. Hence the process has to become an object of interest for every citizen to enable us to eventually make a joint decision, [agreeing] that the constitutional reforms do need a referendum. All the opinions have justifications; all the points of view have the right to exist, but we have to see this process within the context of developments in the course of years. I am hopeful that the public and political system will really make use of the opportunities offered, preventing timeserving political, group and individual interests from becoming an obstacle. Nevertheless, the referendum over the document and the draft’s future is based on the citizens’ belief. I have several proposals too, which I will raise at the debates in the near future.
The [proposed] changes in the government model raise concerns that our country is in a state of war and the weakening of the president’s powers can endanger the country’s governance. Do you share those concerns?
Yes, we are not in full peace at any moment for now, as the threat of war really exists in our region. That concern is real regardless of the form of government. Although it does have a role as to our adequateness in such a situation, I believe that in case of proper checks and balances we can react appropriately in both the preseidential and semi-presidential system as well as in case of a parliamentary government.
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