Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
One of the central directions of the internal political life of Armenia is becoming the constitutional reforms initiated by the authorities. The process of discussing constitutional changes started a year ago. According to plans, Armenia should transform from a presidential republic into a parliamentary-presidential republic. A special presidential committee for constitutional reforms was established. It should present a project of constitutional changes by October 15th. According to members of the commission, a referendum on the reforms could take place no earlier than 2016.
Representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia state that the new changes are directed at establishing more effective working conditions for executive power; they will make the country more democratic, while power will become less centralized. The chairman of the Constitutional Court, Gagik Arutyunyan, says that changes have come to fruition, as the majority of the current constitution remains at the level of slogans; and necessary guarantees of fulfillment of its provisions are not defined there.
At the same time, the parliamentary opposition, represented by the Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia and Heritage, has a different view. Moreover, many opposition activists are sure that in the context of numerous socio-economic problems the issue of constitutional reforms is artificial and not urgent.
“The main problem of Armenia is not poor laws and Constitution, but breaking of norms and laws. Human rights and freedoms are guaranteed on paper, but in fact they are ignored. This is the problem that should be solved. Initiating constitutional changes is a pseudo-agenda, as it is an attempt to distract society’s attention from such important problems as migration and poor social conditions,” Naira Zograbyan, the secretary of the parliamentary faction of PA, said.
“Today when the authorities are not legitimate in the country, our citizens don’t need constitutional reforms. When the authorities are elected by unconstitutional methods, what can we say about constitutional changes?” Raffi Ovanisyan, the chairman of Heritage, is sure.
To be continued
